PORVORIM
Work on the third Mandovi Bridge may have begun in full steam, but questions are already being asked on the need to have a third bridge across the Mandovi River, especially when there is only one bridge over the Zuari bridging Agassaim and Cortalim.
And leading these growing voices of dissent is none other than Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte.
The rapid growth of traffic along the Panjim-Mapusa route has put a heavy load on the twin bridges across the Mandovi River. This pressure is acute during the peak tourism season and peak office hours.
In an effort to streamline vehicles entering Panjim and bypass traffic proceeding along the highways leading towards Margao and Ponda, the state government decided to construct a third bridge on the Mandovi River. Accordingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for the third Mandovi Bridge on June 14.
Work on a new four-lane cable-stayed Mandovi Bridge, to be built at a cost of Rs 403 crore, has begun after carrying out the soil investigations. Constructed by Larson & Toubro (Chennai) through the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), this bridge is expected to be completed within 30 months, that is, by January 26, 2017. The cable-stayed bridge will be 600 metres long and 21 metres wide.
However, there are growing murmurs of dissent over the third bridge. Leading from the front is Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte, who feels that resources should have, instead been allotted to adding a second bridge across the Zuari River.
“There was no need to construct a third bridge on the Mandovi River at this stage. This bridge will cost the State exchequer over Rs 600 crore by the time it is completed,” said Khaunte.
“The government should have given priority for an additional Zuari Bridge, which is, in fact, the need of the hour.”
“The financial position of the government is critical at the moment and hence, it would have been advisable if money earmarked for the third Mandovi Bridge was instead utilized by the government for other developmental works,” Khaunte added.
Convener of Penha da Franca Peoples’ Forum Agnelo Pereira also felt a third bridge on Mandovi Bridge was unnecessary at this juncture, given the delicate financial position of the government.
“Traffic on the existing twin Mandovi bridges could have been managed by better traffic management. What is required at the moment is a new bridge across the Zuari River. The existing Zuari Bridge has already suffered damage and is on the verge of collapse.”
“If the existing Zuari Bridge collapses, it would be impossible for the government to handle the traffic by ferry boats. This is not only my opinion, but the opinion of people who use the Zuari Bridge everyday,” said Pereira.
GSIDC Manager (Eng) Sandip Prabhu Chodnekar told Herald sought to highlight the benefits of the new Mandovi Bridge.
“The new Mandovi Bridge will greatly reduce traffic congestion near the two Mandovi bridges at Porvorim and near the KTC junction at Panjim. Work on the third Mandovi Bridge commenced after obtaining approvals from multiple agencies, including the Captain of Ports, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, Water Resources Department, Goa State Pollution control Board, Town and Country Planning Department, National Highways Authority of India, Forest Department and Goa Tourism Development Corporation,” said Chodnekar.
“The new Mandovi Bridge will start from Majestic Hotel and will end near the Merces junction. The total length including solid approaches will be 4,434 metres.”
“It is expected that around 66% of vehicular traffic will go over the third Mandovi Bridge. A flyover from Merces will join this new Mandovi Bridge to enable traffic to proceed towards Ponda and Margao. Even though S N Bhobe Associates (Mumbai) are the consultants for this project, a proof consultant will be appointed to check the design,” said Chodnekar.
