CANACONA: Stating that the iron footbridge at Sadolxem has weakened, Canacona residents have demanded that the existing bridge be replaced with a bigger overpass considering the massive increase in traffic.
Constructed by the PWD in 2000, the footbridge connects the Canacona municipal area with Poinguinim panchayat. Canacona's former chairperson Suchana Gaonkar said that the bridge has weakened and needs immediate repair.
“The bridge was built during the tenure of ex-chief ministers Luizinho Faleiro and Francisco Sardinha. The then Sadolxem church priest put in great efforts for the bridge to become a reality,” said Pundalik Pagi from Panyefond, Mangan.
The foundation stone for the bridge was laid three times by three ministers. Irked over the false promises, the locals had then destroyed the foundation plaque. It’s only in 2000, the project finally took off.
“The width of the bridge is just 1.5-metre and heavy vehicles cannot pass through. The iron footbridge was built at the cost of Rs 80 lakh and has started to lose its strength,” said Dhananjay Pagi, a local.
Before its construction, Panyefond locals had to take a boat to reach Sadolxem. The river's water level would rise during monsoon, which would make it difficult for the locals to commute to the other side.