Motorists have started using bridge though approach roads yet to be tarred, illuminated
The Navelim-Benaulim bridge over river Sal finally seeing light of the day.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Close to a decade and half since former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao laid the foundation stone for his dream bridges across the river Sal, the last of the three bridges, Navelim-Benaulim bridge has finally seen light of the day.
Even as questions are being raised over the gradient of the approach road towards the Sinquetim-Navelim side of the bridge, not only the bridge but the approach roads have been finally laid by the PWD, Roads. Whether or not PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral would formally inaugurate the bridge remains unknown, but a visit to the bridge side has revealed that motorists have started using the road, though the approach roads need to be tarred and illuminated.
In fact, both two-wheelers and four-wheelers have started plying on the controversial bridge, work on which was held up for around a decade and half after residents of Sinquetim opposed the bridge fearing the heavy traffic plying on the bridge would result in the demolition and razing down of houses and compound walls dotting along the Sinquetim road.
The PWD seemed to have considered the apprehensions of the local residents as evident by the fact that motorists have pointed out that the gradient of the approach road to the bridge from Sinquetim side does not conform to the road norms. “We have found the approach road to the bridge on the Sinquetem side a little steep. May be the PWD have built the approach road with the gradient to ensure that the road does not encroach into the adjoining properties of adjoining owners,” remarked a motorist.
When The Goan called up senior PWD officials to shed light on the Navelim-Benaulim bridge over River Sal, officials said the bridge and the approach roads have been laid. “What remains to be done is the tarring of the approach roads and the illumination of the bridge and the roads”, informed an official.
The official further added: “Given the controversy surrounding the bridge, wherein the bridge proposed by the former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao was opposed tooth and nail by politicians from Navelim led by former Minister Avertano Furtado, the BJP government may not be in favour of formal inauguration of the bridge. We, however, keep our fingers crossed over the inauguration.”
Former PWD Minister Churchill had proposed three bridges over the River Sal, including the Navelim-Benaulim bridge, Telaulim-Varca bridge and the major Assolna-Cavelossim bridge during his stint in power. While the Telaulim-Varca bridge was inaugurated when he was presiding over the PWD portfolio, the Assolna-Cavelossim bridge was thrown open for traffic after 2012, while the Navelim-Benaulim bridge had hit a block after the opposition from Navelkars.
