the goan I network
MARGAO
Just hazard a guess on the agency involved in erecting metal sheets along the old station footbridge, which is notorious for robberies and anti-social activities.
While the metal sheets block the view of the activities in the railway property, including the newly-built guest house located adjacent to the footbridge, pedestrians and two-wheeler riders are exposed to robberies and thefts.
Interestingly, the Konkan Railway Corporation has firmly denied its hand in erecting the metal sheets. Also, the State PWD, which looks after the upkeep and maintenance of the footbridge since its commissioning around a decade ago, said it has no hand in it.
After both the PWD and the KR denied their hand in erecting the metal sheets, The Goan contacted the Konkan Railway Deputy General Manager and PR Baban Ghatge. He initially feigned ignorance of the development, but when a WhatsApp photo was shown to him he confirmed the erection of the metal sheets was illegal. He pointed fingers at the South Western Railway and said, “Our inquiries revealed that the SWR has put up the metal sheets on the footbridge, apparently to prevent a view of their adjacent guest house on the western side of the footbridge.”
In fact, he said the KR will immediately dispatch a letter to SWR to remove the metal sheets from the footbridge. “We have been told the sheets were erected to dissuade people using the footbridge from peeping into the rooms of then guest house,” Ghatge said.
Incidentally, PWD Executive Engineer, Agnelo Barros told The Goan that preliminary inquiry had revealed that the PWD is not associated with the work. “My engineers will find out more details from the railways,” he said.
Now the question being raised is whether the railways can just go about erecting the metal sheets on the footbridge without obtaining NOC from the PWD. Moreover, officials pointed out that erection of the metal sheets requires permission from the local municipal body as well.
The old station footbridge connects the main city to the southern side, near the Rajendra Prasad Stadium, and was the three used by pedestrians and two-wheelers. It earned notoriety after petty criminals started robbing two-wheeler riders and pedestrians
by taking advantage of darkness.
A lady two-wheeler rider, Sabrina Dias, expressed shock and surprise over the metal sheets coming up on the footbridge. “I have been using the footbridge every day, but suddenly I came across the metal sheets. These are a security risk for the riders and pedestrians, especially women, as the view of the bridge is completely blocked,” she said and demanded its immediate removal.
