Team Herald
PANJIM: Even though Union Minister of Roads Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the country’s second longest cable-stayed eight-lane Zuari Bridge on Thursday night, but the traffic woes continued even on Friday afternoon due to delay in opening the bridge for the commuters.
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The bridge that was supposed to be opened on Thursday midnight was finally opened for vehicular traffic at 1 pm on Friday because of which people traversing to North and South Goa had to negotiate traffic snarls.
The PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral informed that the post-inauguration cleaning of the bridge could not be completed in the planned time, which delayed opening the bridge for vehicular traffic.
Many people were already tired as well as frustrated with the Government delaying the inauguration of the bridge. Shockingly, instead of finishing the formal inauguration function on time and letting the bridge opened for the vehicles, there was also musical programme which was held on the bridge after the inaugural programme.
“Have we become so obtuse that we are not able to fulfill simple promises?” asked Akshay Prabhugaonkar, venting his ire on the government.
Sahil Naik, a commuter from Margao to Panjim said, “Having such a humongous bridge and setting world records is understood. However, the bridge has been long overdue and more than joy and pride, it evokes the feeling of need and necessity for Goans.”
“Time is of essence and the Government missed another deadline within 12 hours,” he added.
Cabral however said that despite the delay in opening the bridge in time, “As promised we have stuck to our promise of opening the bridge before December. Also, the work on the other side of the bridge is in progress and will be opened before next December.”
“The traffic jams will now be a thing of the past,” he added.
