VRISHANK MAHATME
After many delays and almost a year-and-half later, the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) has confirmed that the new box culvert bridge over St Inez creek is almost ready and will finally be thrown open to the public by the end of April.
The architecture of the new bridge is on similar lines to the bridges in Venice, Italy with footpaths on either sides and ample space below for canoes to pass keeping in mind tourism activities in near future.
The construction work was supposed to be completed and the new bridge was to be thrown open for public from October 2017 but due to lack of response from bidders and technical issues in the project slowed down the process.
With the demolition of the old box culvert bridge, which was an entry point to 18 June road, Municipal Market and St Inez areas, the road access has been blocked thus resulting in overloading of the lane near Kala Academy and near Inox multiplex.
Speaking to Herald, GSIDC Vice-Chairman, Siddarth Kuncolienkar said, “The new box culvert bridge over St Inez creek is ready and we can say it will be thrown open by the end of April. Only work on approach road, street lights and railing is left.”
He said, “Also the work had to be re-tendered due to lack of response and secondly one firm had sent in their quotation but it had no experience in bridges. Another reason for the delay was this. As the pier work started it was revealed that the layer of rock on the surface did not exist and that it needed a change in the design.”
The then Laxmikant Parsekar-led government, in January 2016, had announced the demolition of the existing facility and its reconstruction. While towards, the end of the year on December 19, 2016, the present Chief Minister and then Raksha Mantri of the country Manohar Parrikar laid the foundation stone to carry out the work.
Accordingly, in April 2017, GSIDC demolished the same. In May, the District Magistrate ordered the closure of road from Shanta Building to Caculo Heritage Precinct till September 12 for all vehicles.
Given the dilapidated condition of the box culvert bridge, it was announced to be a priority for the capital city and the project was estimated to cost around Rs 2.02 crore.
Meanwhile, GSIDC, Managing Director (MD), Srinet Kothwale said, “The bridge has a similar design to that of bridges in Venice, Italy with footpaths on either side and ample space below for canoes to pass keeping in mind tourism activities in near future.”
