NT Reporter
Margao
Citizens on Monday urged the government to immediately undertake repair work of the dilapidated Borim Bridge road, which is causing major inconvenience to road users.
“The condition of this stretch of the Borim Bridge is very bad. The road has many potholes. Several accidents have occurred here, most of which were self-caused due to the inability to navigate around these treacherous potholes,” said a nearby resident, Gajanand Naik.
A daily commuter said that PWD only addresses such issues when public outcry ensues and the matter is brought to the forefront on social media and in newspapers.
“The central government, through its annual budget for the Ministry of Road Transport, has allocated Rs 20 crores for the year 2023-2024 to extend the bridge’s lifespan by another 20 years. Yet, the state government appears unwilling to allocate these funds for the necessary repairs to the existing Borim Bridge,” said environmental activist Abhijit Prabhudesai.
He alleged that the state government and the PWD department are endangering the safety of commuters in a bid to expedite the construction of a new bridge, “apparently to facilitate coal transportation”, despite ongoing protest by affected farmers.
The social media team of The Navhind Times had earlier highlighted the danger posed by the steel rods exposed from the road surface of the Borim Bridge, which severely injured a two-wheeler rider one night. In response, PWD engineers had cut the rods and patched the potholes.
The AAP has also launched a campaign on this issue, alleging that substandard roads have caused many accidents and the tragic loss of innocent lives.
The PWD executive engineer concerned could not be reached for comment.
