Built during the Portuguese regime the Ribandar causeway happens to be one of the oldest and the longest in Asia with a length of 3.2 kilometers. But it appears that the increase in the number of vehicles that pass over this causeway linking Panaji to Ribandar and Old Goa has taken a toll of it. It is observed that in a particular area the road appears to be sinking as the level of one half of the road is lower than the other half. The part of the road that appears to be sinking has been tarred ostensibly to level up. It’s high time this historic causeway is protected from any further deterioration which, God forbid, could ultimately lead to its collapse. Even though heavy vehicles are supposed to move along the road on the Kadamba Plateau, however it is seen that heavy vehicles pass along this causeway thereby further weakening it. This causeway has heritage value and thus should be preserved at all cost. No heavy vehicles should be allowed to pass through this road and it should be diverted along the Kadamba Plateau. Only light vehicles should be allowed to pass along the causeway. Urgent repair work needs to be carried out at the spot where the road is uneven.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
