PONDA: Old hot mix layer removal work on Borim Bridge leads to traffic congestion on the bridge and Borim village. Regular commuters are irked by frequent repair works that cause traffic congestion on the bridge. Concerned about the vulnerability of the old bridge former sarpanch and sitting panch member Sunil Sawkar claims government should not wait for any tragedy and initiate effort for to build a new bridge at the earliest.

“Commuters fear to travel on overused Borim Bridge. Locals don’t want cosmetic repairs, rather demands a permanent solution. He said the bridge life has expired and it is overused for past ten years due to diversion of heavy traffic from Cortalim Bridge. Its life expectancy is thirty year but is overused limits by several tonne loaded vehicles at times,” said Sawkar.

Sawkar said, government should not waste of money on repairs. This is the only bridge that connects South with Ponda and North Goa.

Sawkar pointed out that the streetlights along the bridge are not functioning and locals also demand them to be repaired first.