With no takers for the footbridge over the Miramar-Dona Paula highway near Sharada Mandir School, the structure has turned into a ‘white elephant’. The Rs1.5-crore project built on public private partnership (PPP) model in 2012, has now become a nuisance for the area there. The City Corporation is helpless to demolish or dismantle the footbridge as the issues connected to the project lie in court
Following a representation from the parents on the problems faced by the children going to Sharada Mandir School, a footbridge was proposed by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) through an agreement with a Hyderabad-based Prakash Arts Private Limited Company. Since then, the footbridge remained almost entirely unused, bar a few locals and tourists who may venture on the bridge to enjoy the view and click a few photographs.
“We would not like to comment on it in detail as the matter is currently pending before the district court. The company had filed a suit against CCP claiming compensation for the revenue loss it suffered due to non-granting of permission for advertisements on the structure,” CCP commissioner Deepak Dessai said.
“In order to put an end to traffic jams that occur at Miramar we decided to construct the footbridge. We had taken up this project on PPP basis, and CCP had no financial liability,” Dessai added.
While signing the contract with the company, CCP had given advertising rights to the firm, through which it was supposed to recover the cost of the Rs 1.5-crore project. However, CCP did not grant them the permission and the advertisements which were put up in the beginning were also removed. This resulted into company approaching the court claiming compensation.
“On many occasions, CCP tried to have out of court settlement but the company refused. We now have to wait for the Court verdict, till then the structure will remain,” he explained.
The CCP has awarded the 15-year PPP contract to the Hyderabad-based company.
A parent, with a child studying in Sharada Mandir School, said “The bridge is too high and is an inconvenience to children. School children carrying their heavy bags find it difficult and time-consuming climbing so many steps on a hungry stomach, when walking across the road was a mere 10 steps.”
CCP confirmed that the parents and school management had approached them on several occasions requesting to remove the structure.
