The third Mandovi bridge (Atal Setu) was hurriedly inaugurated on 5th February 2019 but over two years later the bridge is yet to be complete in all respects. There are huge piles of debris lying all over at both ends of the bridge. The wing entering the city the Panaji end is also yet to be completed with the work abandoned for over a year.
With hundreds of crores having been spent the government was duty bound to ensure that very rigorous Quality Control Standards were not bypassed in their attempt to hastily get it completed. The glaring defects that have so quickly surfaced on this bridge is a matter of concern and disturbing. Let us keep our fingers crossed on the assurance that this bridge would last over 100 years. The construction may have been entrusted to an otherwise reputed company Larsen & Toubro but a lot of ancillary works having been allocated to petty sub – contractors and the shoddy execution was there for all to see. Less said the better on that infamous 2014 concretization of the Miramar-Dona Paula Road. We were assured that it would be a state of the art road having a dedicated cycling track. But the end product is there on public display. It has been so poorly and shabbily executed with that promised cycling track nowhere in sight. What we can see today across Goa is also the glaring poor construction of highways and connecting flyovers. All this is unacceptable as taxpayers money has to be very judiciously spent with quality of the works never ever compromised. Every project has to be a very lasting one. A successful project is one which can achieve a balance between cost, time, quality and meets the agreed goals of the project. This success can only be achieved with transparency, accountability and zero tolerance to corruption. The government would be well advised to inaugurate any project only when it is completed in all respects. Also the foundation of any project be laid when the work actually commences. Across Goa we have a gallery of foundation stones rotting for years with not even a brick laid. To ensure that every project is properly and meticulously executed, we need to ensure Quality Control by persons well equipped to technically and administratively monitor and ascertain strict compliance of established standards. There can never be any room or excuse for any substandard construction or a waste of taxpayers’ money. The onus is also on the Citizens to be very vigilant about public projects coming up in their neighborhood as ensuring quality, sustainable infrastructure with respect for the environment, is everyone's responsibility. Quality is never an accident, it is always the result of forward planning and research, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution. It represents the wise choice of many alternatives. Great projects require the highest quality output at every stage. Quality is a journey which has to be ensured from the foundation stone till the very completion of any project. 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
