Team Herald
PANJIM: A day after Congress questioned the fitness of the under construction Mala-Patto bridge across Ourem Creek, Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) denied any faults in the ongoing construction.
“The bridge has two lanes of 7m each with a foot path of 2.1m on either side. There is a gap of 3m between the two lanes, which shall be used to accommodate services such as water pipe line, sewage, high tension electrical lines, telecom and street lighting. Construction activities for Lane 1 are in progress. The laying of the expansion joints as well as work for provision of crash barrier is in progress,” says a statement issued by the Corporation on Thursday.
They also clarified that the alignment of the bridge has been approved in the ODP as well as by Town and Country Planning Department. “The work is carried out under supervision by maintaining proper quality. The bridge deck slab is constructed by using M45 grade concrete. The bridge is provided with the central cantilever slab. The cantilever slab will be designed to take the load of water supply line of 700 mm diameter pipe,” it added.
GSIDC claimed that the planning is carried out by considering the master planning of Panjim city done by LKS Pvt Ltd. The estimated cost of work was Rs 23,64,70,437.00 and was awarded to Larsen and Toubro Ltd for Rs 24,24,41,097.11, below reasonable cost of Rs 26,71,46,122.45.
The statement says that after completion of Lane ‘1’ the new water supply line will be laid on the cantilever slab by PWD (PHE). “After the new water supply line is laid and connected to the existing line on either side of the creek, the existing water supply line along with the steel bridge crossing the creek will be dismantled. Lane 2 will be constructed after dismantling of the existing water supply line, and its supporting steel bridge,” the note adds. BJP Goa has asked the Opposition to stop its political stance over the bridge. “It is a political stance by Congress. They should stop doing this now. There is no technical or any problem with the under construction of the bridge,” BJP-backed corporator and former Mayor Shubham Chodankar said on Thursday, denying any faults in the works.
All India Congress Committee Secretary Girish Chodankar had pointed to various faults in the ongoing construction of the bridge, after an inspection carried out with a team of party office bearers.
