MARGAO: With the situation pertaining to under construction Sinquetim bridge at Navelim is heading towards major conflicts amongst the people of Navelim and Benaulim, Sinquetim locals on Sunday resolved to oppose the bridge at any cost.
At the meeting, residents decided to meet Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas and Minister for Public Works Department Nilesh Cabral over the issue.
It may be recalled that a section of residents from Benaulim are in favour of the Sinquetim bridge and they claim that it will benefit the people in general. Interestingly, residents of Sinquetim fear that they will lose their heritage houses and properties, including the chapel structure, when road widening will commence for the sake of the bridge.
On Sunday morning, soon after the church service got over, several residents of Sinquetim held a short meeting, wherein former MLA Avertano Furtado and other local leaders participated and deliberated on the issue.
They have apprehension that the concerned department will commence the work of road widening once the bridge is completed, wherein several houses will be demolished, besides heritage structures.
Further, residents claimed that people were not taken into confidence before re-starting the work of the bridge, which was once stopped.
“We have several heritage houses over here, including the structure of the chapel. Actually, there is no need for another bridge over here, as we already have two more, besides a new bridge under the western bypass project at Navelim,” Agostinho Fernandes, resident of Sinquetim told reporters.
He is of the opinion that Navelim will witness more traffic problems in the near future if the Sinquetim bridge is completed.
Agreeing the same, Inacio Fernandes also said that locals are strongly opposing the bridge, as it will add more problems to the residents.
“At the meeting we have decided to hold a meeting with the local MLA and thereafter PWD Minister to deliberate on the issue,” he informed.
A few days before reacting on the issue, PWD Minister Cabral had stated that the government has already spent huge money on the project and it got all the necessary clearances.
He had even shown the readiness to sit across the table and discuss the issue pertaining to road widening.
At the same time, a section of people from Benaulim Constituency, on the other side of the bridge have supported the project and they have demanded complete construction of the bridge at the earliest.
