Massive traffic congestion was reported across Panjim city on Friday following the temporary closure of the new Patto Bridge for essential repair works on its damaged expansion joints. Despite traffic authorities arranging alternate routes, commuters faced long delays and gridlock throughout the city.
The bridge, a key arterial route into Panjim, is scheduled to remain closed from April 11 to April 14. While two-way traffic was allowed during morning hours, the situation deteriorated as repair works commenced later in the day, forcing traffic to be rerouted via the old Patto bridge and surrounding inner-city roads.
Vehicles entering the city were diverted near the Soho Club through Umesh Keni Petrol Pump towards DB Road, while outbound traffic from Church Square was redirected through Cortin and onto the new Mala bridge. However, the increased volume on these narrow roads led to bottlenecks and significant delays.
Frustrated commuters took to social media to express their grievances, calling for better planning and real-time updates. “It took me 50 minutes just to get from the bus stand to the office. The detours are not equipped to handle this much traffic,” said Daniel Colaço, a local office-goer.
Officials from the Traffic Police Department acknowledged the disruptions and said that additional personnel had been deployed to manage flow at critical junctions. They urged the public to remain patient and cooperate with ongoing diversions until the repair work is completed.
The repair of the bridge’s expansion joints is part of essential maintenance to ensure long-term structural safety.