Sunday, October 24, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa Blog

Goa airport runway closed for two hours after fuel spill

Posted: 24 Oct 2010 04:59 AM PDT

The Goa airport was closed for over two hours late Saturday night after a tanker half-full with aviation turbine fuel overturned on the runway, officials said Sunday. A probe has been ordered. The tanker, operated by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and carrying 6,000 litres of the highly combustible fuel, was heading towards civil terminal for refuelling parked aircraft, according to a statement by the Indian Navy, which operates the airport.

According to the statement, naval authorities reached the scene of accident within a few seconds, rescued the driver to safety and took action to prevent the leaking fuel from catching fire. “The runway was closed immediately and a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued,” the statement said, adding that the runway was unusable for nearly two hours. “We had to ensure that the surface was not slippery, which could cause the aircrafts to skid,” the navy said, adding that the tanker was later lifted away with the help of a crane. “The runway was restored and declared fit by 2300 hrs and normal operations were resumed,” a navy spokesperson said.

Goa's only airport at Dabolim is a part of the INS Hansa naval base and is out of bounds for civilian traffic several hours of the day and night.

Courtesy: thaindian

Goa: NHAI proposes 2 toll booths on NH 4A

Posted: 24 Oct 2010 01:52 AM PDT

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has proposed a minimum toll of Rs 23 for four wheelers travelling from Panaji to Ponda after the completion of the four laning of the NH 4A. During a presentation on Saturday evening on re-survey of the proposed alignment for broadening of the NH 4A, Mr Kiran of Wilbur and Smith Associates, a consultancy firm hired by NHAI, said there would be two toll booths, one at Banastarim and the other at Mollem. He said that the two wheelers will not be charged any toll. Cars will have to pay a minimum of Rs 23 when crossing the Banastarim toll booth while the toll charge for light commercial vehicles will be Rs 38. Buses will be charged Rs 79 while medium commercial vehicles will be charged Rs 124 and heavy commercial vehicles would have to pay a toll of Rs 150.

Similarly, the four wheelers crossing the second toll booth at Mollem will have to shell out Rs 25 while light commercial vehicles will have to pay Rs 42. Buses crossing this toll booth would be charged Rs 87, medium commercial vehicles would be charged Rs 137 and heavy commercial vehicles will have to shell out Rs 160.

Mr Kiran further said that there would be a provision wherein locals with personal vehicles within a radius of 10 km from the booth could pay Rs 150 per month at a single toll booth and could travel without any restrictions on the number of times they cross that booth. He also said that special provisions have been made on return journey.

Mr Kiran said after the re-survey, the right of way will be 60 metres at open places and 45 metres where commercial establishments and houses are located on the highway and 35 metres at the heritage site at Old Goa. He said that 168 structures could face demolition as against 569 in the previous alignment and added that there would be two major bridges, one at Khandepar and another at Banastarim, and five other minor bridges. Mr Kiran informed that 132 hectares of land is yet to be acquired of the total 232 hectares of land required for the four laning of the NH 4A, which has been reduced by four kilometers after the fresh realignment.

Courtesy: Navhind Times

Wet outfield forces Goa abandonment

Posted: 24 Oct 2010 01:39 AM PDT

On-field umpires Billy Bowden and Amish Saheba, accompanied by ICCmatch referee Chris Broad decided to call off the third one day international between India and Australia. The abandonment was due to unplayable conditions caused by a wet outfield. This means India wins the series 1-0, having won the only match played in the three match series, at Visakhapatnam on October 20 by five wickets.

A damp outfield caused by overnight rains had already delayed the start of play for more than three hours  when the umpires and match referee had an inspection of the entire Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium ground, including the bowlers’ run-up and the wet areas on the outfield at 11 am before deciding to have another inspection at 12:15 pm.

The ground was covered by tarpaulins overnight which protected most parts of it but still there were some seepages on the outfield. The super sopper was employed to suck up the water from the covers. The wicket itself looked dry and fit for play. The series opener in Kochi last Sunday was washed out.

Courtesy: expressbuzz

Ind vs Aus 3rd ODI: Australia Can’t Afford Rain in Goa

Posted: 23 Oct 2010 10:32 AM PDT

Tomorrow is the third and final ODI between Australia and India in the ongoing series of 3 ODIs. Australia already had a bad experience in the two test series earlier than the ODIs when it lost both the tests. With India's clean sweep in Test Series by 2-0 and winning the second ODI thereby leading ODI series by 1-0, Australia would not be very comfortable position if the play tomorrow is not held due to rain.

Goa ODI

Match cancellation tomorrow due to rain will mar Australia's chances of squaring off the ODI series 1-1 and it will be a double embarrassment for Australia by losing in both the formats of cricket in India. Though it is not a regular rainy season in Goa but an out of turn rain is predicted by the local Metrological department which may disrupt match for few overs or totally wash it out as it happened in Kochi.

It will be after more than two decades that Australia had a double defeat in any country. Rain started yesterday evening in Goa and was going on till midnight. It started raining again in the morning after just a few hours it had stopped. Due to this frequent rain the two teams could not even have substantial practice session in the ground either yesterday or today. The sky is still not clear and Met department is also not very confident of no rain happening further according to their report.

The win in the test series by 2-0 and in the ODI series leading by 1-0, India definitely has an edge over Australia. Though bowling was not very impressive in the second ODI but the fire in batting line was quite visible.

With first ODI washed out and a win by India in the second ODI thereby taking the lead in ODI series by 1-0 in this three ODI series reduced to two ODI series, Australia will go back with a bad mood and low esteem if tomorrow's ODI does not take place due to rain and India winning the ODI series by 1-0. At least Australia will have a fair chance of squaring off the ongoing ODI series 1-1 if tomorrow's ODI happens and Australia is able to win the match.

Courtesy: cricket
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