Team Herald
PONDA: Borim panchayat members led by sarpanch Bhavna Naik on Monday threatened to stage a rasta roko if the concerned authorities fail to repair the dilapidated Borim bridge within eight days.
Borim sarpanch Bhavna Naik along with the panchas on Monday inspected the Borim Bridge and during the inspection they found the bridge to be in a dilapidated condition. They found the bridge to be vibrating and shaking on account of the movement of heavy vehicles.
Panch, Sunil Sawkar threatened that if no repairs are carried out then the Borim locals would stage a rasta roko.
He feared that the dilapidated bridge would collapse any moment and added that the current condition of the bridge has created panic among commuters.
The inspection was carried after a video highlighting the bridge’s dilapidated condition went viral on social media.
Sawkar said, “We will stage an agitation. Though NH officials say there is no need to worry as bridge is safe for commuting but at the same time they are not willing to give in writing that the bridge will not collapse.”
“Compared to last year, we had inspected the bridge and had warned about its deteriorating condition. Nearly Rs 10 crore were spent on its repairs a few years ago, but now with constant flow of heavy traffic, its condition has worsened,” he said. He called for repairing the Portuguese-era Bailey bridge to ensure the movement of light vehicles at the moment.
NH officials said, “Borim Bridge is safe for commuting. Bridge has some flexibility and suspension issue. The welding of hinge type expansion plate is damaged due to which one plate of finger type expansion plate has dipped at one point and a gap has been developed. However, there is no need to worry and we will soon carry out the repairs. We had asked for permission to close the bridge and as soon as we get the same, we will carry out the repair work in next few days as soon as the rains subside.”
