TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The PWD has resumed work on former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao’s controversial Benaulim-Navelim bridge over River Sal at Sinquetim, but the ongoing work of the proposed “footbridge” has come under close scrutiny of Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva.
As he found to his shock and surprise that work on the footbridge was going on in full steam at the site, a visibly upset Caitu warned the supervisor to strictly adhere to the specification of a footbridge in both letter and spirit. The Benaulim MLA made the remark after he found hectic work on construction of the bridge slab, giving an impression that the government is laying a slab meant for heavy vehicles. “Carry out the work as per the decision to restrict the bridge to a footbridge. Leave a gap in the middle of the bridge as per the decision. I do not want any deviation of the decision to convert the bridge into a footbridge”, he said.
As the supervisor sought to explain to Caitu that steps will be built on both sides of the bridge after the slab laying work, the Benaulim MLA said “I have no issue with the steps leading to the footbridge. But my worry is that you should not lay a slab which will allow vehicles to ply in future”.
The Parrikar-government has decided to convert Churchill’s ambitious Benaulim-Sinquetim bridge to a footbridge following demands from the Benaulim MLA as well as from his Navelim counterpart and Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado. The Benaulim-Sinquetim bridge has been a bone of contention with the bridge coming in for severe opposition from the two MLAs. In fact, both Avertano and Caitu had made a strong plea to Parrikar during his first visit to Navelim after becoming Chief Minister to scrap the Benaulim-Sinquetim bridge, saying that Churchill had bulldozed his way by pushing the bridge against the sentiments of the people of both sides of River Sal.
