PANAJI
PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral said the condition of the bridge could not blamed for the Zuari mishap, as the mishap was a result of overspeeding.
“Laying blame on the condition of the bridge will not help as whatever barricading done on the bridge would never have sustained impact of speeds exceeding 100 kmph. The barricading was not designed to sustain such impact,” the minister said.
“The parapit is designed to take impact of vehicles travelling at 30 kmph. But in this case, the vehicle jumped over the parapit and then crashed into the barricade before falling in the river. It is overspeeding which has led to death of the occupants in the mishap as taxi drivers have made statements that they were recklessly overtaken by the SUV,” Cabral added and informed that it is wrong for politicians to blame the government.
“Overtaking on the bridge is not allowed, there’s a speed limit of 30 kmph. If the vehicle was travelling at 30 kmph the barricading would not have broken. Ultimately, people have to adhere to rules and regulations,” he informed.
On the need to undertake repairs of the bridge, Cabral said that till the new Zuari bridge is commissioned it would be difficult to undertake major repairs of the bridge as the bridge would have to be closed but assured that maintenance will be done periodically and that the new bridge will be thrown open to traffic before the end of the year.
Cabral further said he has spoken with the CM Sawant and IT Minister Rohan Khaunte on the need to put into place an automatic monitoring system by way of which the challan will go to the vehicle owner.
“It will be on a BOOT basis and suggestion to this effect has been made in the Cabinet,” he added.
