PANAJI
The installation of the prefabricated foot overbridge (FOB) across the national highway at the revered Fulancho Khuris shrine in Bambolim was postponed on Sunday after engineers and the team working at the site encountered technical difficulties during the crucial lifting operation.
The bridge, which was scheduled to be mounted in the early hours of Sunday morning, will now be installed next Sunday after corrective measures are completed, officials said.
While authorities declined to elaborate on the nature of the problem, sources at the site revealed that deflection was noticed in the bridge's pipe ring assembly when the structure was being manoeuvred into position atop the reinforced concrete pillars.
"The rings will be resized over the next few days before the next operation to place the prefabricated footbridge on the pillars," a source said.
The overbridge is being erected to provide pedestrians safe passage across the busy highway stretch near the shrine, a location that witnesses heavy footfall throughout the year.
The steel superstructure has been fabricated off-site and transported in sections for installation. The operation involves lifting the bridge span using heavy-duty cranes and carefully positioning it on specially constructed support pillars and bearing arrangements.
Officials had drawn up an elaborate traffic management plan for the exercise, including temporary diversions and restrictions along the highway during the five hours between 1 am and 6 pm on Sunday, anticipating a lengthy overnight operation.
However, the work had to be suspended soon after the technical issue came to light.
Project engineers are expected to carry out structural adjustments and quality checks before attempting the installation again next weekend. The delay is not expected to affect the overall completion schedule significantly, sources said.
Meanwhile, ahead of Sunday's planned installation, Revolutionary Goans Party's (RGP) local MLA from St Andre, Viresh Borkar, along with party workers and local residents, had offered prayers at Fulancho Khuris seeking divine blessings for the safe and successful completion of the project.
Addressing those gathered there, Borkar briefed them on the traffic diversion arrangements and appealed for public cooperation during the bridge-launching operation.
The foot overbridge is expected to improve pedestrian safety on one of Goa's busiest highway corridors and provide easier access to the shrine for devotees and also to the nearby IPHB and nursing college campuses, once commissioned.
