Team Herald 

PANJIM: Almost 91 percent physical work of the third Mandovi Bridge has been completed, as the last segment of the bridge on the Porvorim side was put in place on Wednesday. Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) in a small ceremony lifted the final deck slab segment of the bridge, the work of which is expected to be completed by December 31, 2018. 

 “The bridge will be completed by December and will be opened for service in either the first or second week of January, 2019,” GSIDC vice chairman Siddharat Kuncolienkar told media persons.

The 5.13km long structure has been built at a total cost of Rs 482 crores with Rs 434.65 crores already being paid to L&T, the contractor. Construction of the bridge, which extends from Pundalik Nagar junction to Merces junction, began on July 27, 2014 and is likely to be completed by December 31, this year.  “The bridge is 91 percent complete,” GSIDC chairman Deepak Pawaskar said. 

Chairman said that construction of the bridge was delayed because of litigation. Once completed, the bridge would decongest Panaji, and allow vehicles to cut down the commute time between Margao and Panjim. “This third bridge is required because the national highway expansion is also going on at a rapid rate. This bridge will benefit Goans and national transporters. An export and import hub that is coming up will require such a bridge,” he said.