MARGAO: Goa is witnessing huge infrastructure development such as national highway widening, building of bridges, flyovers and service roads. The third Mandovi Bridge and new Zuari Bridge crisscross major roads.
But is the new infrastructure is safe? The piers of the Margao flyover and the third Mandovi Bridge are right in the middle of the road, as such, are in danger of being hit by fast moving vehicles.
Lakhs of people, including tourists, use the bridges to traverse from North to South. However, there seems to be no thought given for the protection of the piers of the bridges that are in danger of being hit by fast moving vehicles.
At least two of the piers of the 20-year-old Margao flyover are staring at the similar threat.
Incidentally, India is a signatory to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction adopted by the UN World Conference. And the Sendai Framework has been ignored in case of Margao flyover and third Mandovi Bridge.
The piers of Mandovi and Zuari bridges and the Margao flyover have no crash barriers to prevent damage to the structure.
Explaining the Sendai Framework, Roland Martins of GOACAN said, “There were four priorities for action and seven targets. The responsibility of taking action on the priority and achieving the targets rests with the District Magistrate. The magistrate has to set a target for reduction of the damage to critical infrastructure and basic services which requires that all infrastructure that is built is able to withstand earthquake and floods and adequate engineering safety is inbuilt. Magistrate is further required to hold a meeting of all Engineering departments should be called and ensure that they should make the design of the Government schemes (like schools, hospitals, bridges and dams) which are able to withstand the disasters.”
“We have a poor record as far as maintenance is concerned. It is better late than never they have to create something for the piers as a drunk fuel tanker or a loaded truck or a bus driver will be enough to make permanent damage to the ambitious projects of bridges in Goa putting the people at risk,” Martins said.
When asked what safety standards are followed for securing piers of the bridges, PWD Executive Engineer Laxmikant Naik said, “The standards are followed by the contractor. The PWD doesn’t have anything specific regarding the land section of the piers of the bridges. For river, we have metal frame barriers to avoid any barge or ships colliding into the piers.”
He also said that this is a common problem faced by all the towns which have bridges passing over busy roads.
The District Administration is mandated to hold regular meetings for deliberating for risk reduction for Infrastructure and other subjects. However, how much of those guidelines are being followed is a big question mark.
