Fix Margao flyover

The Margao flyover which is a crucial road link connecting Margao to villages down south is in need of urgent attention. The seriousness of the issue came to the fore when social activists Roland Martins and Lorna Fernandes raised an alarm over the deteriorating condition of this signature flyover. The Deputy Collector Uday Prabhudessai made it clear that KRC should be ready with a disaster management plan while asking PWD to come out with an action plan for repairs of the flyover in view of the wear and tear and the potholes along the motorable road.
The audit of the flyover is however a long term plan. What is more pressing is the deteriorating structural condition which needs to be rectified on an urgent basis. Although the maintenance of the project comes under the purview of the PWD, KRC cannot absolve itself from this project and as rightly directed has to prepare an audit report. There have been no audits done on this crucial link over the railway tracks since inception in the 90s and the premise that maintenance has been delayed in view of a collective audit exercise of other flyovers cannot be accepted. The flyover which was constructed by the Konkan Railways and handed over to the PWD for maintenance has been in pathetic condition with huge craters appearing on the surface, while underneath there are corroded steel rods protruding out, throwing serious questions about its safety and life-span.
There was a Rs 35 lakh estimate drawn up for surface maintenance of the flyover but surprisingly the PWD returned the file saying that there was a consultant appointed to examine several other flyovers across the State and that the report is awaited. There have been minor repairs and patchwork conducted at the Margao flyover, but these are short term quick fix solutions. Urgent and serious maintenance work such as this, cannot wait till the bigger audit happens. Authorities need to move fast and get into the act. Remedial measures need to put in place and repair work should start on a priority basis.
Margao cannot wait for a disaster to happen. A disaster management plan should have been in place long back. There are residential and commercial complexes in the vicinity on either sides of the flyover. Worse still, there is a steady flow of rail and vehicular traffic, including buses. Authorities should have been ready with Plan B should an eventuality strike at any point of time.
Bridges and flyovers are our crucial land links and have to be maintained well. The Margao flyover for now appears to be a disaster in waiting. We cannot be bystanders waiting for a tragedy to happen. There are innocent lives at risk. The PWD and the Konkan Railway should go about this job with all seriousness. Piecemeal work is just an eyewash. The overall health of the structure should be studied and repair work should start immediately.