PONDA: Sunday marked the 37th anniversary of the inauguration of the iconic Borim Bridge, spanning the Zuari River. Over the years, this bridge has played a crucial role in driving the economic progress of the region. Nevertheless, the passage of time has seen traffic congestion on the Borim bridge grow into a pressing issue, highlighting the need for the construction of a parallel bridge in the near future.
Connecting Ponda and Salcete talukas, the Borim bridge was officially opened on August 27, 1986, by then Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane. The inauguration event was graced by notable figures such as then-Minister Luis Proto Barbosa and current Minister of Water Resources, Subhash Shirodkar, who was the local MLA at the time. While the bridge continues to serve as a lifeline for the region’s industrial estates, concerns have emerged over its structural stability due to the vehicular traffic it carries.
Thousands of vehicles ply the Borim Bridge on a daily basis. Despite the recent inauguration of the new bridge at Cortalim, which has alleviated some traffic congestion, commuters still wrestle with evening traffic bottlenecks in the vicinity. The road leading to the bridge itself is too narrow for the quantum of traffic and the situation worsens on Thursdays due to the Sai Baba temple festival along this route.
Tragically, the Borim Bridge has also been a site of several suicide incidents, with individuals resorting to jumping off the bridge into the Zuari River. Additionally, fatal accidents have occurred near the chaotic junction close to the bridge. These factors collectively call for a modern, state-of-the-art replacement for the Borim Bridge.
Suraj Naik, President of the Shiroda BJP Mandal, strongly emphasized that the construction of a parallel bridge in Borim is crucial. The existing bridge, having served for decades, now faces the heightened risk posed by the burgeoning vehicular load. Naik underscored that many long-standing challenges affecting the Borim area could be resolved definitively if the government undertakes the construction of a new bridge to avert any untoward incidents.
Madhu Khandeparkar, the former Sarpanch of Betoda Panchayat and current pancha, echoed these sentiments. He highlighted the daily congestion and accidents on the narrow road leading to the Borim Bridge from Bythakhol. As the Borim Bridge celebrates 37 years of its existence,
Khandeparkar urged the government to take action towards the construction of a new bridge to ensure enhanced safety and improved traffic flow for the community.
