PONDA: Growing frustration is being voiced by residents of Borim and commuters over the frequent repairs being carried out on the overused 40-year-old Borim bridge, which thousands rely on daily for travel to work and other purposes.
Concerns about the safety of the ageing bridge have intensified following the recent collapse of similarly aged bridges in Karwar and Gujarat. National Highway officials said the bridge has recently undergone rehabilitation works, including strengthening, repairs, hotmix carpeting and replacement of bearings at a cost of about ₹13 crore. The works also led to long traffic jams during the repair period.
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Although officials say the bridge has been inspected by an expert team from IIT and strengthening works have been completed, many commuters remain apprehensive. Locals recalled a major jolt experienced at the finger-type expansion joints a few years ago, which had raised safety fears at the time.
Residents say the bridge has been heavily used for more than a decade, including when traffic was diverted during the construction of the new Cortalim bridge. They have demanded that heavy vehicles be diverted to the Cortalim bridge to reduce pressure on Borim bridge and the narrow NH road passing through Borim village.
Plans for a new bridge have also run into opposition from farmers in Borim and Loutolim as the proposed alignment passes through fertile agricultural land. The issue is currently sub judice.
Borim Sarpanch Sagar Naik said the bridge was built about four decades ago at a cost of ₹3 crore and urged the government to study the number of heavy vehicles using it. He said the bridge must not meet the fate of the Karwar bridge and hoped the recent repairs would ensure its safety for years.
Deputy Sarpanch Bhavna Naik said members of the panchayat had earlier inspected the bridge and some were afraid to stand on it due to jolts. Though repairs have been carried out, she questioned how long such repairs would continue and when a new bridge would be built, adding that commuters often face traffic jams of two to three hours daily. She urged the government to resolve the land acquisition issues and find an early solution.PONDA: Growing frustration is being voiced by residents of Borim and commuters over the frequent repairs being carried out on the overused 40-year-old Borim bridge, which thousands rely on daily for travel to work and other purposes.
Concerns about the safety of the ageing bridge have intensified following the recent collapse of similarly aged bridges in Karwar and Gujarat. National Highway officials said the bridge has recently undergone rehabilitation works, including strengthening, repairs, hotmix carpeting and replacement of bearings at a cost of about ₹13 crore. The works also led to long traffic jams during the repair period.
Although officials say the bridge has been inspected by an expert team from IIT and strengthening works have been completed, many commuters remain apprehensive. Locals recalled a major jolt experienced at the finger-type expansion joints a few years ago, which had raised safety fears at the time.
Residents say the bridge has been heavily used for more than a decade, including when traffic was diverted during the construction of the new Cortalim bridge. They have demanded that heavy vehicles be diverted to the Cortalim bridge to reduce pressure on Borim bridge and the narrow NH road passing through Borim village.
Plans for a new bridge have also run into opposition from farmers in Borim and Loutolim as the proposed alignment passes through fertile agricultural land. The issue is currently sub judice.
Borim Sarpanch Sagar Naik said the bridge was built about four decades ago at a cost of ₹3 crore and urged the government to study the number of heavy vehicles using it. He said the bridge must not meet the fate of the Karwar bridge and hoped the recent repairs would ensure its safety for years.
Deputy Sarpanch Bhavna Naik said members of the panchayat had earlier inspected the bridge and some were afraid to stand on it due to jolts. Though repairs have been carried out, she questioned how long such repairs would continue and when a new bridge would be built, adding that commuters often face traffic jams of two to three hours daily. She urged the government to resolve the land acquisition issues and find an early solution.
