CUNCOLIM: The people of Cuncolim have demanded the urgent repair of the dilapidated Uskini bridge, which is burdened by the constant movement of heavy goods vehicles and buses. Anxious that the bridge on the Cuncolim-Karwar Highway may collapse at any time, local activists allege that the Public Works Department and Highway Authorities have neglected the upkeep of this old structure, which they say was last repaired thirty years ago.
The bridge, locally called the Uskini bundh, is built over the Uskini-arc river. Six months ago, when a goods lorry fell from this bridge into the river, the safety railings on one side were completely dislodged. The pillars of the railing on the other side of the bridge are also in a state of collapse. “Six months have passed since the railing collapsed, but the PWD has failed to repair it. They used barricades on the sides of the bridge as a temporary arrangement, but these are also lying on their sides, and do not serve their purpose,” said local social worker Kabir Morais, adding that locals worry that heavy vehicles that venture too close to the sides may slip into
the river.
The dilapidated bridge is burdened by the large container trucks and lorries transporting goods from Koncar Logistics at Balli Railway Station as well as the highway traffic. Morais said that he went under the bridge to inspect it, and found that the situation was dire. “The concrete is completely cracked and falling off in pieces, and the slab has separated from the iron bars that are sticking out. The bridge can collapse at any time, it’s a disaster waiting to happen,” said Morais.
He added that the arterial bridge is regularly used by Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao, Speaker Ramesh Tavadkar and Quepem MLA Elton D’Costa, as well as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, when he visits his sister’s house in Cuncolim.
When contacted, Alemao said that the PWD has already issued a work order for the repairs of the bridge, and that work would begin shortly. PWD officials said that a contract of Rs 3.82 lakh has been floated for the repair of the culvert. They added that the work on the culvert will be taken up along with the road-widening work of National Highway 66.
“Can these repairs be done with only a budget of Rs 3.82 lakh? The authorities should immediately inspect the entire bridge and not just waste time on minor or superficial repairs,” said Morais.
