Most of the Portuguese Era mini bridges-cum-culverts along National Highway17 from Balli to Mashem-Polem, Canacona are on the verge of collapsing and locals of the area live in fear and have claimed that if not given immediate attention, there is danger of a mishap.
According to Canacona PWD and local engineers, there are six such bridges cum culverts that were built during the Portuguese regime from Balli to Polem and are in need of immediate attention. Their width is so narrow that two vehicles cannot pass easily, resulting in a blockage every time.
Among the six bridges, the work on the new adjacent bridge at Poinguinim is under construction and it will take at least another year for its completion.
These bridges are located at Godyavoll near Paddi, Polakaden at Barcem, Bhatpal at Tolpona River, Barcem near Khramal Ghat Section, Gulem Bazar and at Mashem.
“If any of these bridges collapse, then we will be cut off from Karnataka and other states, as there is no other road link to NH17,” said Santosh Gaonkar, former chairperson of the Canacona Municipal Council.
According to Shristall Panch, Sanjiv Naik, “Despite the Bhatpal-Ardhofond culvert being nearly washed away during the 2nd October 2009 floods, no one bothered to inspect its load-bearing capacity or its present status. Vehicles bearing several thousands of tonnes worth of weight go over it each day and the government should take some urgent steps and repair these culverts without delay.
Bhanudas Naik Gaonkar and Manoj Gaonkar, both environmentalists from Char-rasta opine that culverts on NH17 have no safety barriers on either side and several vehicles in the past have crashed over it, causing grievous injuries to humans, damaging vehicles and spoiling the paddy and sugarcane cultivation below.
“In the past, pedestrians and even cattle have fallen off the culverts in the absence of any railings,” informed Suhas Velip, former sarpanch of Shristall village panchayat.
Besides this, the fencing of the bridges at Paddi-Barcem and at Poinguinim have been damaged. This too is in urgent need of repair.
According to Jovi Fernandes, former Sarpanch of Agonda, during the last 10 years, a number of accidents have occurred at Dhumanem curve and many people have died. The signboard erected by the concerned authorities has disappeared and plans to construct a parallel bridge have gone unheeded.
“At present there are no railings before the bridge on a sharp curve with a valley on either side to prevent the falling of vehicles in the culvert,” he added.
Dayanand Faldesai, a social worker from Agonda informed that some years ago, a mini-bus which used to ply from Canacona to Agonda went off the bridge and fell into the rivulet, injuring more than twenty passengers.
Local Engineers attached to Canacona PWD said that the proposal to construct a parallel bridge is already forwarded to concerned higher authorities and is awaiting approval.
