The lack of planning in taking up the work on the new Zuari bridge is becoming apparent with every new bottleneck that crops up during the ongoing construction process. The traffic jams on the stretch from Agasaim to Cortalim, that have lasted hours, leading to people missing flights and functions, have made it to the front pages of every paper. The sudden proposal to divert traffic to allow the construction to continue was another example of how badly this project had been planned. The government was forced to withdraw this proposal, but currently the traffic is diverted at night, though it is allowed on the route in daytime.
The daytime flow of traffic is, however, not smooth on the stretch of highway from Agasaim to Cortalim, where the work on the new Zuari bridge is being undertaken. The stretch permanently has traffic jams – minor and major – caused mainly by the bad state of the roads all along the bridge construction site as all vehicles slow down to negotiate the broken road. This is caused by the fact that the diversion roads that have been hurriedly built to allow the construction process of the bridge are of a very poor quality and have given way under the continuous flow of traffic and the onslaught of the torrential rains that have flooded Goa.
Take for instance the stretch of bypass road in Agasaim, it is excellent until it reaches the spot where there is a diversion and one enters the service road that has been built. From there onwards it is almost a nightmare till the bridge. Again, as one drives off the bridge and on to the road at Cortalim, the surface is fine until one again encounters the service road. This, except for a small stretch where one travels on a concrete surface, is again a nightmare until the Kesarval slope. All these service roads have been badly constructed and the agency that did it has to be held responsible.
It is simple logic that if these potholes are repaired, if these roads are levelled then the traffic will flow at a quicker pace, with less jams and less delays. It is not the amount of traffic that is causing commuting delays on this stretch, but the road conditions. A proper road without potholes, and loose gravel will also lead to less damage to the vehicles. Currently every vehicle slows down to the bare minimum speed on the stretch holding up the traffic coming behind. At various times of the day there are vehicles that are idling on the existing Zuari bridge, caught up in the jams. This weight cannot be good for the bridge whose condition has been known to be precarious.
The government and the construction company should have been able to foresee these needs when planning the project. Once the alignment of the bridge had been finalised, all the diversions and service roads should have been carefully planned. Officially, the new bridge is expected to take another 18 months to get completed. At the current pace of work, it would take longer. Will those commuting on the stretch for the next two years have to undergo this same experience until then?
The fury of the rain has subsided and even the sun not just peeped out for a little over the weekend, but bathed the land with some of its heat, taking away the dampness that had set it. As the water receded from the fields, the depth and width of the potholes on the roads became apparent. It is a wonder that there were no accidents that took place due to these. Now that there appears to be a respite from the rain, the authorities have to take up the repairs of the potholes on an urgent basis, before the rains come down again and make the maintenance impossible.
