The new signature Zuari Bridge was to be a boon for motorists travelling across the river from North Goa to South Goa and vice versa. The half baked bridge was inaugurated on December 29 last year after much public pressure.
However, from the day of inauguration, motorists have been put to hardships while travelling from Agasaim to Cortalim. With only four lanes, that is, only the western part of the bridge ready, two lanes of the bridge are dedicated for traffic flow from Cortalim to Agasaim and a single lane is dedicated for heavy vehicular movement from Agasaim to Verna. The remaining single lane is wasted to maintain the median on the bridge.
While only heavy vehicles are permitted, all types of vehicles including two-wheelers have been sneaking through the bridge towards Verna, including government vehicles. At times some cops can be seen right at the end of the bridge to issue challans but most of the times there is no one to direct the traffic or take action against the erring motorists. It is mockery of traffic rules.
Ahead of the tourism season, it would be prudent on the part of the government to streamline the traffic system on this bridge. Goa is already facing a brunt of fatal accidents and the new Zuari Bridge should not become another black spot. Authorities should either let all types of traffic flow from both the sides by dedicating two lanes each for either side of the traffic flow or place cops at the beginning of the bridge on the Agasaim side to divert vehicles other than heavy vehicles towards the old bridge.
