MAPUSA
In a significant move to ensure the safety and longevity of vital infrastructure across the State, the government has initiated a comprehensive structural audit of nearly 2,000 bridges and culverts.
This includes key historical structures like the old Patto Bridge in Panaji, as well as the Zuari and Borim bridges in South Goa. However, the old Mandovi Bridge in North Goa has been excluded from the audit.
The Mumbai-based firm, Structwell Designers & Consultants Pvt. Ltd., has been awarded the contract for the audit, which comes at an estimated cost of Rs 14 crore.
The exercise is the first of its kind in Goa, marking the largest ever structural evaluation of bridges and culverts in the state’s history.
6-MONTH DEADLINE
The audit, which has already commenced, is expected to be completed within six months, after which the firm will submit its findings to the State government.
According to senior officials from the Public Works Department (PWD), the extensive survey will assess the condition of the structures, monitor their health, and provide a detailed plan for repairs, rehabilitation, or strengthening.
“This is the first time such a mammoth exercise of conducting a structural audit of most bridges has been undertaken in Goa. Given the age of many of these structures, some of which date back to the Portuguese era, it is imperative to evaluate their current condition, especially with the increase in traffic loads over the years,” said a senior PWD official.
STRUCTURAL HEALTH,
REPAIR PLANS
The contracted firm will undertake a detailed conditional survey of the bridges and culverts, which will include structural health monitoring.
Based on the results, they will prepare a repair and rehabilitation scheme for each structure, identifying which need immediate repairs, which can be strengthened, and which might require more extensive rehabilitation efforts.
In addition to modern bridges, the audit will also focus on masonry culverts spread across the State, many of which have been in use for several decades. This includes evaluating culverts in both urban and rural parts of Goa, ensuring the safety of residents and commuters.
LONG OVERDUE
The structural audit is long overdue, as it comes in the wake of several concerns raised over the condition of Goa’s ageing infrastructure. In 2023, then PWD minister Nilesh Cabral had assured a structural audit of bridges and culverts in Sanquelim, following concerns raised by Poriem MLA Diviya Rane about the dilapidated condition of the bridge over the Kalti River in Sattari.
The need for such an initiative became even more urgent following the collapse of several bridges in Bihar earlier this year, which raised national concerns about the state of ageing infrastructure in various parts of India.
