As hundreds of crores are being spent on the Third Mandovi Bridge which is under construction, the government is duty bound to ensure that very rigorous Quality Control Standards are not bypassed in their attempt to hastily get it inaugurated by Narendra Modi on January 13th 2019. That this government has decided to name it as Manohar Parrikar Bridge is another issue.
Realistically it will take at least six months if not more for that bridge to be ready in all respects. Manohar Parrikar has been known to launch incomplete toilets but in a mega project like this the Government’s caution and indulgence is called for. The construction of this bridge may have been entrusted to Larsen & Toubro but a lot of ancillary works have been allocated to petty sub - contractors and the shoddy execution is there for all to see. A young welder, Sarula Sheikh, a native of West Bengal was burnt to death on 26th December 2016 at the construction site of this Bridge, but let no more lives be lost in the Government’s tearing hurry in racing to complete this project. The government would be well advised to inaugurate this bridge and every other project only when it is completed in all respects. Cutting ribbons of half baked incomplete ventures to score cheap political points is not permissible and should be strongly resisted. Also the foundation of any project has to be when the work actually commences. Across Goa we have a gallery of foundation stones rotting for years with not even a brick laid. On this Third Mandovi Bridge very astonishing but not surprising are the details of how a Larsen & Toubro senior official of Goan origin paid that huge kickback to Manohar Parrikar in a room at the Marriott's at Miramar while his collection agent Sidharth Kuncalienkar was in attendance. This is BJP’s version of Zero Tolerance to Corruption. Amen Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: [email protected] Or [email protected] You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com
