MARGAO: Concerns have been raised by citizens and commuters over the manner in which the repair works for the Railway Over Bridge (ROB) at Margao is being carried out and the quality of material used as well.
Commuters have also pointed out that there is a need of adequate warning signs to avoid any accident from taking place. This they emphasised as there have been a couple of near-miss accidents as the bridge is frequented by a large number of commuters.
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Others like the Shadow Council for Margao (SCM) have felt that the ongoing repair work is technically flawed, which would create problems in the future.
“While only hoping that the works designed are after taking all technical aspects into consideration, we wish to put on record and list out a few doubts about the works executed, which may possibly lead the entire ROB into a perennial pothole-ridden stretch”, said Savio Coutinho, SCM convener.
SCM members pointed out that the peeling layer of the concrete ‘wearcoat’ has exposed the shoddy and haphazard work executed during the construction of the ROB. “The surface after peeling off the wearcoat has exhibited how severely uneven the concrete slab was laid”, they added.
“Due to this unevenness, the concrete wearcoat layer was of uneven thickness, which resulted in potholes, exposing the steel within”, said Coutinho.
“In the present design, hotmix carpet is being laid using fine course materials, probably to bring the surface to proper levels. And inspite of using fine course material, a bare minimum thick hotmix carpet layer was not possible at certain spots along the bridge,” Coutinho added.
SCM members also raised doubts as to how firmly the hotmix carpet layer will stay bonded to the concrete surface.
“Knowing well the quality of hotmix prepared nowadays, we strongly apprehended that the layers of the hotmix shall disintegrate and result in potholes”, said Coutiho.
SCM members also hoped that the construction joints, which are being sealed with hotmix carpet layers, would stay in place.
“Due to the constant development of potholes over the ROB, the PWD may be left with the only shortcut remedy of laying hotmix carpet layers year after year, thus eventually raising the levels of the road and reducing the height of the parapet wall. We hope that the concerned department looks into all these aspects before the completion of the repair works,” Coutinho concluded.
