PONDA: The Borim Bridge, inaugurated in 1986, is overloaded with heavy traffic and has caused concern among commuters, who fear that the structure could collapse like the major bridge across the Kali River near Karwar, disrupting the lives of thousands of employees and causing hardship to the public.
The locals have demanded that the bridge, which has a capacity of 30 tonnes, be used only for light vehicles and called for diverting heavy vehicles via the new Zuari Bridge.
Despite ongoing repair works, there is anxiety among commuters about the bridge’s condition as they want the government to take immediate action to address the situation.
The locals said the bridge has been put on ‘life support’ considering the truss erected below it.
They fear in case the bridge collapses, it will be impossible for boats to ferry thousands of these vehicles every day. The bridge connects Ponda taluka with Salcete taluka
Kishore Rao, an engineer, recalled that the 40-year-old bridge across Kali river, a crucial link between Karwar and Goa collapsed and added that if this bridge meets the same fate, then daily commuters, especially the poor, will be hit hard.
He said that it’s high time that the government issues a notification to divert heavy traffic to the Zuari Bridge till the new bridge is built.
He said that when Zuari Bridge was under repair, and till a new bridge was built, heavy traffic was diverted via Borim Bridge, the condition of which has worsened. Borim Bridge has a carrying capacity of 20 to 30 tonnes, but there is movement of heavy vehicles.
Anuj Madgaonkar, another Borim local, said that till the new bridge is built, heavy traffic should be diverted via other routes.