Team Herald
PANJIM: Intense traffic congestion is being witnessed on the second Mandovi bridge due to the untimely closure of the Nehru Bridge (old Mandovi Bridge).
The Goa Board had asked the students to leave early, and as much as possible, to take the Atal Sethu, so that they can reach the examination centres on time. However, two-wheelers aren't allowed to ply on the high-level bridge.
Some students told OHeraldo that they leave early to reach the exam centre at 8.45 am, even as the Class XII examination starts at 9.30 am. The old Mandovi bridge has been closed due to maintenance work. It will remain closed for 15 days. "Maintenance of bridges is absolutely needed for the safety of commuters but it appears that the work has been undertaken at a wrong time. The reason is because during this time the class XII examinations are going on, and its a stressful situation for kids to be stuck in traffic in the mornings," said a commuter from Porvorim.
Motorists experiencing long queues and gridlock at the junction where the old and new Mandovi bridges merge, with hundreds of vehicles stuck in a bottleneck, has become a daily affair.
However, the Traffic Cell of Goa Police has urged all motorists—except two-wheelers—traveling from Porvorim towards Ponda, Bambolim, and South Goa, and vice versa, to use the Atal Setu to reduce congestion on the New Mandovi Bridge.
The bridge was supposed to close earlier but it was postponed due to the Winter Session of Goa Legislative Assembly session.
The bridge will now remain closed till February 23, 2025. The maintenance work includes resurfacing the bridge with asphalt, installing safety measures, and painting under the NH-66 Annual Plan 2023-24.