NT Reporter
Panaji
Closure of the new Patto bridge for repair of a damaged expansion joint led to long vehicular queues and slow traffic movement in the city on Friday, particularly during the afternoon and evening hours.
The district magistrate, North Goa, has notified a temporary road closure and diversion at the new Patto bridge leading towards Panaji city from February 20 to 22. Authorities had undertaken repair work on the same damaged expansion joint in April last year.
“The traffic police have been deployed at various locations to regulate the traffic. Except for afternoon, when there was heavy rush during the school leaving hours, there was slower traffic movement. However our policemen managed to bring the situation under control within half an hour,” said Traffic Superintendent of Police Prabodh Shirwaiker.
Around 40 traffic police personnel were deployed at various locations to regulate traffic. While motorists said the deployment helped, some said authorities should have installed temporary signboards.
Shirwaiker, along with PI Dhiraj Devidas and other traffic officials, monitored the situation on the ground.
Police said that two-way vehicular movement was allowed on the new Patto bridge (riverside), while traffic was permitted to enter the city through the old Patto bridge, which is otherwise used for exiting the city.
Vehicular traffic exiting the city from Church Square has not been allowed to proceed towards the old Patto bridge and instead has been diverted towards Mala bridge, said police.
