The 15-day closure of the old Mandovi bridge has quite literally thrown traffic flow out of gear, underscoring not only how vital the link to and from the capital is, but also how much vehicular density has increased in India’s smallest state.
Certain sections of the population have been affected the most, particularly office-goers who now have to reschedule their travel times, and students Std XII who are appearing for their Board examinations. Left with no alternative, traffic cops have exhorted students to set out for their exam centres earlier than usual.
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As expected, the upset in their regular routes of commuting coupled with the massive traffic snarls owing to the bridge being closed, prompted affected citizens to lash out at the government and its ill-timed decision to shut the bridge for repairs. Yes, the authorities concerned could have planned the closure better but even the best made plans often go away. The much-needed work was already delayed due to the recently concluded winter session of the state legislative assembly and would have probably been pushed back further to facilitate the smooth conduct of the upcoming Carnival and Shigmo celebrations. And before one knew it, the monsoon would have arrived, washing away any chance of the old Mandovi bridge getting the fresh layer of asphalt it so desperately needs.
It should not be forgotten that the bridge in question was built way back in 1971. It was reported Russian in design and the first of its kind to be used in India. However, it should also not be forgotten that the same bridge collapsed in 1986 due to what was later attributed to the “corrosion of the pre-stressed cable that attached the precast concrete segments to the piers”. The catastrophe led to the old bridge structure being dismantled and strengthened with concrete at an estimated cost of Rs. 2 crore, which was a substantial sum in those days.
To ease pressure on the bridge, a second link across the Mandovi river was built in 1988 and a third – the Atal Setu – was commissioned in 2019. Despite three bridges, however, the exponential increase in traffic density over the years has put considerable strain on each of them, warranting their regular maintenance and repair
It is no secret that the tarmac of the Old Mandovi bridge has been in urgent need of carpeting for many years now, especially the approach road from the Panjim side which is so uneven that even vehicles with the best suspension get rattled on it. Carpeting of the road is indeed important as it reduces the constant slamming of vehicles, especially heavy ones, on the segments joining the spans.
That being said, the government would do well to stagger repairs of the Old Mandovi bridge, or any other bridge, in the future. Keeping such a crucial route shut for 15 days feels like an eternity, specially because it links the state capital and is considered to be a more convenient entrance to the EDC complex at Patto that houses crucial government offices. Also, it is greatly depended on by commuters who travel onwards to their workplaces to central Goa or South Goa.
If the collapse of bridges in the recent past and the loss of life and money they’ve caused are anything to go by, maintenance on a regular basis is mandatory. However, there needs to be a middle ground in which the convenience of the common man is thought about and maintenance works are scheduled to cause as little problems as possible.
For now, the only thing citizens can do is to wait it out and allow the authorities enough time to complete the maintenance of the Old Mandovi bridge. Hurrying it along at this point won’t serve anyone as substandard work will affect both, the bridge and the people using it.
