Team Herald
PANJIM: With just 35 percent of work on the third bridge over River Mandovi completed till date, Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) has now set a new deadline of May 2017 for its completion.
GSIDC vice-chairman Siddharth Kuncolienkar on Thursday expressed concern that the project has been delayed by five months from its expected deadline of January 2017. “The project may be completed by May 2017. Only 35 percent of the work is completed till date,” he told media persons during a site inspection.
Following the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order directing the State to ensure that mangrove plantations are not destroyed while constructing the bridge, the entire work towards the Panjim-Merces junction is stalled, delaying the project.
“The NGT order seeking CRZ clearance had caused a delay on the work on the Merces side of the bridge. We have all clearances now. Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has granted CRZ clearance for the project,” the MLA said.
GSIDC and Larsen and Toubro (L & T) officials inspected work at the L&T yard at Dhargal, on Thursday. L&T is constructing the Rs 450 crore bridge.
Kuncolienkar said all the columns for the bridge on the Porvorim side are ready and pilling of the four columns in the Mandovi River has also been completed.
L&T Project Manager Arvind Nerurkar said this will be the third longest cable bridge stayed in the country which will be 10-15 meters higher than the existing two bridges and that M60 cement, which is seven times stronger than normal cement, is being used.
Work on casting of two and four lanes segment is going on at the pre-casting yard at Dhargal and by end July the segments will be transported from the yard to the bridge site. Reviewing on the progress made so far the engineer said 85% of piling work, 55% of pile caps, 32% piers and 11% segments (4 lane) casted at casting yard have been completed so far.
Kuncalienkar also rubbished claims that corroded steel is being used for the construction of the bridge. He mentioned that special CRS steel is being used which has a chromium plating which is exclusively manufactured by Tata Steel at Jamshedpur.
“When the third bridge was being planned some citizens felt it was not required. However, today we can see the traffic congestion that occurs during the peak hours,” he added.
L&T is working on constructing the deck slab spans at Dhargal. “One span is completed every 12 days. We have stocked enough materials for the construction to ensure that work is not stopped if supply is disrupted or delayed,” Kuncalienkar said
He also stated that fitting of the girder crane on the Porvorim side which is used to place the segments one after another on the columns has been delayed by 10 days due to traffic congestion. Once that is set up construction will move at as faster pace.
He also stated that a crash divider will be installed below the columns for which he has sought suggestions of what may be depicted on the columns – Goan culture or greenery.
