the goan I network
PANAJI
The third Mandovi bridge, a pet project of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, will in all probability be thrown open for public use on Republic Day, although a final decision in this regard is yet to be taken by the State government.
A top official of the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) said the work is almost complete and by Saturday tarring of the bridge’s deck will be completed.
The tarring of the approaches on either side of the bridge is also expected to be completed by next Monday, the official said even as the Corporation has begun the process of preparing the inventory to hand over the bridge to the State Government by January 25. If the plan to throw the bridge open to the public on Republic Day works, then Parrikar himself will do the honours of inaugurating the bridge on January 26.
The State government had earlier planned to have the bridge inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The bridge project including its approaches on either side -- Pundalik Nagar, Porvorim to Panaji -- is about 5-kilometers in length, while the bridge itself is a 620-metre-long cable-stayed technology.
It is being executed by Engineering giant Larson and Tubro.
The second load testing will be done within a week’s time and before its formal inauguration. Also 100-feet pole has also been installed at Merces junction to hoist the national flag which will be permanently unfurled after the formal inauguration.
