TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: After literally hanging in balance since the last three years, former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao’s controversial Navelim-Benaulim bridge over the River Sal at Sinquetim is all set to receive the government’s nod, but only for two-wheelers.
The approach road to the bridge will not just be restricted to two-wheeler traffic, but a proposal is on the cards to convert portion of the roads on either side of the bridge into a garden, where people can use the same for leisure.
After a series of meeting over the issue with the opponents of the bridge, including Navelim MLA and Fisheries Minister, the PWD Minister, Sudin Dhavlilkar has forwarded a note to the Chief Minister to clear the file and work is expected to resume after a gap of two years once the Chief Minister gives his final stamp of approval.
PWD Principal Chief Engineer, R S Rego confirmed to Herald that an amicable solution has been worked out after consultation with the stake holders. And, if Rego is to be believed, the bridge can be even thrown open for two-wheeler traffic around Christmas time. ‘Major portion of the Sinquetim-Benaulim bridge stands completed. We have to only put the slab and build the approach roads. My office will issue the order to the contractor no sooner the final nod comes from the Chief Minister’s office,” Rego said.
When contacted, Navelim MLA and Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado said the government maintained that the bridge cannot be abandoned midway since huge amount of public money has gone into the bridge construction. He, however, hastened to add that they have insisted that the bridge should be restricted only for two-wheeler.
“The government has accepted our demand to restrict the bridge to 1.5 meters for two-wheeler traffic if the same cannot be scrapped. The PWD has promised to develop the approach roads in such a manner wherein only space will be left for two-wheelers, while developing the balance area into a garden”, he said.
The Sinquetim-Navelim bridge was one of the three dream bridges proposed by Churchill Alemao over River Sal during his tenure as PWD Minister. While the Telaulim-Varca bridge is thrown open for vehicular traffic, the Assolna-Cavelossim bridge is almost nearing completion. Work on the Sinquetim-Benaulim was suspended after a change in political guard post 2012-polls after local residents of Sinquetim had vehemently opposed the bridge on grounds that compound walls and houses would be razed down to make way for heavy vehicular traffic.
