PANJIM: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday announced the third Mandovi bridge would be inaugurated on January 27 at the hands of Union Minister for Transport Nitin Gadkari but the moot question remains – will Goa get a complete bridge.
On Wednesday, the Porvorim side of the bridge was kept open for the general public and hundreds thronged to take the selfies before it is formally inaugurated.
Sources revealed that though the bridge will be inaugurated on January 27, it may not be opened for public as there many unfinished work – which could pose danger to public, especially on the Panjim side.
Team Herald took the opportunity to audit the completion of works and the conclusion was that – the work is far from over.
While the bridge from Porvorim side looks to be complete there are some places where parapets are yet to be completed.
Besides, the work on dividers at some places is yet to be over.
Also, the workers were running against time to complete the expansion joints which is a very important job.
On the other hand, on the Panjim side, work on the approach road for vehicles coming down from Porvorim is still underway and looks like it cannot be finished on time.
What more, when one takes a closer look at the approach road or elevated road from Panjim towards Porvorim, it feels like, the work could take weeks to complete.
At one segment the concrete has just been laid and work on parapets has not even started.
On Panjim side the work on streets lights are also not completed.
Moreover, with D-Day just few hours away, there is no question of removal of debris from the site and as per sources it may take months before the area is cleaned.
When Herald contacted L&T officials, they refused to make any comment. One engineer on condition of anonymity said, “the main work would be completed only a few things may remain.”
Asked whether both side of bridge will be open for commuters, he said, “should be”. When the same questions were posed to GSIDC vice-chairperson Siddharth Kuncoliencar, he replied, “Absolutely, the work will be completed on time. You wait and watch.”
About approach roads on both sides at Panjim, he said, “We will do it on time don’t worry. Also, the bridge will be opened for commuters”
Questions have been raised over the height of parapets which seems to be very low, however, Kuncoliencar said they were as per international standards. “The parapets are as per international standards and nothing has been changed,” he said.
GPCC president Girish Chodankar was very critical of the government decision to inaugurate the bridge questioning the hurry.
“Why inaugurate the incomplete bridge?” he asked adding “this is all being done to inaugurate the bridge before code of conduct for by-polls and Lok Sabha elections.”
