MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced on Thursday that the government is prepared to construct a new footbridge connecting Sinquerim in the Mayem constituency with Corjuem in Aldona, contingent upon the availability of land and necessary approvals.
“We are ready to build the footbridge, but we need an irrevocable no objection certificate (NOC) confirming land availability on both the Sinquerim and Mayem sides,” Sawant stated in the House.
His comments came in response to a calling attention motion by Mayem MLA Premendra Shet, who highlighted the deteriorating condition of the existing footbridge, which poses a risk of collapse.
Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira confirmed that there is a proposal to reconstruct the bridge at the same location and assured that the required NOC for the land on the Corjuem side would be provided. Shet also committed to securing the NOC for the Sinquerim side.
The footbridge, originally built several years ago with metal by a local representative and mining companies, has suffered from severe corrosion due to exposure to saline water. Over time, the steel beams supporting the bridge have significantly deteriorated, rendering it unsafe for both pedestrians and two-wheelers.
In 2019, the District Magistrate North closed the bridge to the public due to safety concerns. Despite the presence of a newer, properly constructed bridge at Poira Corjuem, approximately 1.4 km away, locals continue to use the unsafe footbridge, disregarding government warnings.
The new footbridge project aims to address the safety issues and improve connectivity between the two areas, provided that the land and permits are secured.
