PANAJI
The PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral stated on Wednesday that the Public Works Department will not manage Goa's Atal Setu till the bridge is repaired. The project is currently managed by Goa State Industrial Development Corporation (GSIDC). IIT Madras is studying problems of Atal Setu.
Cabral informed that GSIDC with the help of IIT Madras must address issues of Atal Setu and solve the issues and later hand over the management to the PWD after the problems are rectified.
“Atal Setu is with the GSIDC. It has been given to IIT Madras for reviewing the problems. I have been doing the follow-up. Ultimately it will come to PWD, but before taking over the bridge we will try to sort out all problems,” said Cabral.
The Atal Setu is one of the widely promoted projects of the BJP government, but has been witnessing many problems since it was opened for public travel.
The Borim bridge also is facing similar issues and there are potholes. Cabral pointed out that the Borim bridge has non-stop traffic which cannot be halted. "For repairing the bridge, it has to be closed for 10-15 hours which is not possible looking at the traffic flow. The road has to be get asphaltic tag on top, but we cannot do the work even at night time," he added.
"After the closure of Zuari bridge for heavy vehicles, the entire heavy traffic has been diverted via Borim bridge and so it remains busy. We will try to finish Zuari bridge work by July end and then take up the Borim bridge repairs. The roads are done on both sides, but the bridge work remains to be done,” mentioned Cabral.
