It's before Belgaum,
(here to Belgaum 33kms)
8 kms from Khanapur on Goa -Belgaum Sector NH 4A
From Goa, its Panaji - Ponda - Mollem - Anmod - Ramnagar - Khanapur - Nandgad -Belgaum
Different Road to Nandgad hillock
Many Goans visit here during Lent - Way of the Cross etc
Many Goan names figured in the list of benefactors
From Panaji its about 125km.
Take Belgaum bound Bus via Anmod and get down Nandgad just after Khanapur ( fare around Rs. 105)
and take road to Nandgad hillock - Road in muddy (not tarred) so avoid driving during monsoons.
Jeeps etc can go right on top
Others up to the gate from where about 15 mins walking / climbing uphill involved
Miraculous Cross at Nandgad Estd. 1888
Pilgrim Centre declared December 2000 by Bishop of Belgaum 'Legend says – Deadly plague had been haunting the villages around Nandgad and had brought many deaths. Tired of these deadly occurring, the people here prayed and vowed to God that they would erect Christ’s cross on one of the hills. To everyone’s astonishment that the plague really disappeared and haunts them no more'
Defunct Sky Bus route about 1.6km longfrom Rawanfond Junction to Margao old Rly
Station.
It was commissioned around 2003, test run carried out in
Sept end 2004 but it went wrong,
killing at least one person /Engineer.It
seems no other parties shown interest in reviving the project despite inviting global
expression of interestsand hence it is now decided (Aug. 2013) to scrap the
project. It is said, the cost of dismantling would be Rs.2 crore and revenue earned from scrap Rs. 5 crore. However, the project cost Rs.50 crore plus maintenance cost over the 9-10 years.
Somehow I have predicted it’s fate, these pics and Video were taken on the 1st Aug. 2013 and the news about the scraping of the project came in 3 days later.
Here are the pics - (Some pics taken in 2006 also shown in the end / below)
The 1.6 km long route
The Sky Bus Project: Timeline
Sky Bus project was a New year’s gift to Goa (2003) by
then Indian Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee
October 15, 2003, Railways Minister Nitish Kumar launched
the “Sky Bus Technology” in Margao.
Test Tracks commissioned in January 2004
The
corporation had successfully tested the new technology at Margao in Goa on
September 15, 2004 when the electric motor fitted coaches moved ahead and came
back on 1.1 km test track at a speed of 40 km an hour
September 25, 2004 The Konkan Railway’s
Skybus Manned Test run failed killing at least one and injuring at least two
others.. A technician was flung out of one of the coaches when it went
completely out of control
Resumed Test Runs Jan.7, 2005
Using a railway based manually-driven system, the skybus has
resumed test runs in Goa
August 2013 - The KRC Sky
Bus Project was scrapped
No parties shown interest in reviving the projectdespite inviting Global tenders
On 22nd Oct 1999,the Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro writes to
Ravindra Gupta, Secretary of Civil Aviation
“..I would also like you to take action on our agreement
to have an International Airport at North Goa, the process for which can be
initiated immediately’
Why did Luizinho wanted the new Airport to start immediately?
The Chief Miniter Francisco Sardinha writes on 21st February 2000 to Civil Aviation
Minister ‘..I wish to request you for your intervention in the matter for an
early decision(on Mopa Airport)’
April 13, 2013 a front page interview on V Ixtt with
Former Rajya Sabha MP John Fernandes
‘..I have a long discussionwith Ajit Singh, the Civil Aviation Minister,
he say once Mopa Airport is Commissioned, the Dabolim Airport will be entirely
taken over by the Navy’
Video 1: 6 candidates declare their full support for Dabolim only
Churchill Alemao, Reginaldo Lourenco, Swati Kerkar, Savio Rodrigues,
Shalom Sardinha, Raju Mangueshkar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSTzjxaeBMo
Income and Expenditure: Receipts:
Collection during the First meeting Rs.72,700
Other Donations 94,300 Total: 1,67,000
Expenditure:
Printing and Stationery Rs.42,000
Meeting all over Goa 82,000 (excluding this one)
Press Conferences 10,500
MOPA inspection 6,700
Lawyer's fees 20,000 Total: 1,61,800 Balance at hand: about 5,000
Last year...
Opposition to MOPA is growing, many in favour of retaining Dabolim Airport as the only Airport of Goa. Many even feel including some MLAs/Ministers that Navy should shift it's base to nearby Karwar Seabird which is about 100kms from here. Dabolim is centrally located where as the proposed MOPA is located at the extreme north (Closer to Maharastra State border). http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk8/1236885025/sizes/l/in/photostream/ One of the main reasons where people oppose the proposed MOPA airport is that they fear that existing Dabolim Airport will be closed for civilian use once MOPA is commissioned on the grounds of National Security. Goa's Anjediva Island near Karwar which was handed over to NAVY with a condition that Goans or Civilian people will be given access to the Island i.e. 2nd Feb every year so as to enable them to celebrate traditional feast of Our Lady of Brotas at the Church (Oldest Church) located on the Island. However, Navy refused to entertain Civilians on the day giving security reasons. Now, people feel, Dabolim Airport too will be lost on similar grounds when Goa has two airports.
Goans for Dabolim only
Public Rally at Lohia Maidan, Margao - Goa
On 15th May 2013 where 6 MLAs including two ministers also attended the meeting some pics and videos here
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