Work on the new bridge across Zuari river as well as the approaches on both sides is going on at a brisk pace with men and machine working round the clock. Pillars have taken shape towards the southern side of the bridge, while levelling and ground works have been going on towards the northern side.
With a 2019 deadline given by Union minister for road, transport and highways Nitin Gadkari, the builders Bhopal-based Dilip Buildcon Ltd. have put manpower on the ground, day and night. As the work progresses, the stretch of around 13-kilometres has turned out to be a nightmare for vehicular traffic. With no illumination on the approach roads, the common man travelling at night is exposed to grave risks due to the heavy machinery movements and equipment extrusion. Moreover, traffic management is left at the mercy of labourers working at the site making it even more prone to fatalities.
Going a little away from the bridge, where bypasses are taking shape, the situation is similar. While there is no illumination at the Nuvem bypass, the roads there have worn off making huge sections unmotorable. Citizens have also raised concerns over the quality of works. There must be periodic visits to the site and audits to assess the work. Lest we forget, Gadkari had promised the people of Goa that the work will be reviewed every fortnight.
