Say old bridge too narrow to handle heavy traffic
The Assolna bridge over the river Sal in the focus of attention from villagers.
MARGAO
Decades old pre-Liberation era Assolna bridge, a vital link for the villages of Assolna, Velim, Ambelim, Betul, and further down south, has come into sharp focus.
While questions have been raised time again over the structural stability of the bridge, a number of questions remain unanswered – why was there no proposal to build a new parallel bridge when as many as three new bridges have been built by the government over the river Sal in the last decades at Cavelossim, Telaulim and Navelim?
That’s not all. When the Goa government had built three new bridges at Rawanfond, Khareband and Mungul by demolishing the old bridges over two decades ago, why did Assolna not figure in the scheme of things as a result of which this vital bridge was not taken up re-construction.
Well, these and other questions have come to the fore a day after the Chinchinim gram Sabha demanded a new parallel bridge at Assolna and also conduct structural stability of the bridge on priority.
When The Goan sought answers to these questions from a senior PWD official, he said the local bodies should put the proposal for a new bridge for the consideration of the government.
The official, however, could not answer whether any structural stability test of the bridge was conducted, saying that it would require the bridge closure at least for the day to conduct the test. “We do not see any threat to the bridge at least in the immediate future. Though the bridge was built decades ago, the bridge looks strong. But, local bodies can move a proposal to the government for a new parallel Assolna-Chinchinim bridge to set in motion the process of preparing estimates etc”, the official added.
Locals pointed out that the government should have built a new bridge over the River Sal at Assolna considering the movement of heavy traffic coupled with the fact that the bridge is too narrow to handle the traffic load. Social activist Anthony D’Silva pointed out that the Assolna-Chinchinim bridge is a vital link for the villages of Assolna, Velim, Ambelim, Betul, Cananguinim, Cabo de Rama to travel to Margao. The Cutbona fishing jetty in Velim has now become a major fishing hub. Hundreds of vehicles leave the jetty to various destinations every day”, he said.
Velim MLA Cruz Silva conceded that the Assolna bridge not only need repairs to strengthen its stability, but a new parallel bridge should be built at the site as a matter of caution. “During our meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, we had taken up the construction of a new Assolna bridge. The Chief Minister had called for a proposal from the local bodies to start the process”, Cruz added.
