The construction of a parallel bridge in Khandepar and the widening of two bypass roads in Curti and Farmagudi will give a new look to Ponda. Citizens have welcomed both projects, especially the Khandepar Bridge, which they have been demanding for a long time.
Citizens claim that the existing bridge, which was constructed during the Portuguese regime, had been neglected for over 50 years, and its narrow width has caused many traffic jams.
The new bridge will be built around 100 mts away from the existing bridge, on the Opa side.
Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar stated that there were many delays in getting the new bridge, but now their dream was being fulfilled. He has informed that people were demanding a parallel bridge on the Khandepar River for the last two decades as there were frequent traffic jams on the existing bridge due to the increasing number of vehicles. Additionally, industrial and essential goods, like milk and vegetables, are transported to Goa from Belgaum on the Khandepar-Usgao route. Mamledar stated it was not only office-goers who were suffering, but also those in need of emergency medical services.
Finally aware that the old and overburdened Khandepar Bridge would be unable to withstand heavy traffic for long, the Government decided to build a new bridge. Last year, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone for a four-lane bridge with a bypass.
Welcoming the new bridge, Curti-Khandepar Sarpanch Deepa Naik stated that the Khandepar Bridge was constructed during the Portuguese regime and it is so narrow that two heavy vehicles cannot pass each other. She added that traffic police had to be deputed to the bridge to regulate traffic and that the bridge was carrying weight far beyond the recommended amount.
According to Ponda PWD Executive Engineer Mohan Curki, the106 metre-long bridge will connect Usgao to Khandepar. He further said that the work on the approach road and soil testing was underway and that the entire project will be completed within three years.
The bridge will have three piers in the river and two spans of 28m and two spans of 25m. The project will include the construction of two underpasses, one near Opa and one at Kerian on the Ponda side of the approach road. On the Ponda side, the widening will stretch up to Safa Masjid.
The project also includes the widening of the approach roads. The total project length is 7 km and the cost is around Rs 240 crore, including the cost of bridge plus approach road and widening of the seven km stretch from the bridge, i.e. is up to Safa Masjid in Ponda.
Besides this, the Dhavali four-lane bypass road has also been cleared. It goes down at Farmagudi and joins the Ponda road. The bypass is about four kilometres long. The work is going on at a quick pace and is likely to be completed within two years.
