-- Samir Umarye BICHOLIM: The people from Bicholim have expressed surprise and displeasure over the government's apathy in inaugurating the newly constricted parallel bridge in Bicholim.
It may be stated that the Bicholim bridge is the only link between Bicholim and Sanquelim. The existing bridge has become weak and after the demand from the people the government decided to build a new parallel bridge. The bridge which is now completed took several years for its construction and the delay also led to increase in expenditure. "The foundation stone of the bridge was laid on March 10, 2007 at the hands of the than Chief Minister, Pratapsingh Rane. Later, almost for next two years the government did not trun towards the bridge" Vinayak Chari from Bicholim claims "later when the news about the pending bridge started coming in the media the government woke up from its sleep and PWD floated the tender." According to sources the initial estimate of the bridge was 4.20 crore and in May 2009, two years after the foundation stone was laid, the mud testing and other process began. "It was delayed also because political struggle in Bicholim and the people from Bicholim had to bear the consequences" a person told on the condition of anonymity. Surprisingly, the PWD carried out the mud testing process May 2009, just before the monsoon and again the work was delayed for another year. As per the sources all this delay only led to increase in the expenditure. The parallel bridge when completed also led to another problem as the height of the newly constricted bridge was such that PWD engineers had to struggle to bring it on the land and join with the existing road. At last after much efforts and road filling the bridge was made to join the road. Even after doing this another problem that cropped up was that it lead to a sharp turn at the entrance of the bridge. "The sharp turn will only lead to accidents as the vehicles who come from the bridge might directly land on the KTC bus stand" Rupesh Thankar told. As there were so many problems the Chief Minister at last intervened and the engineer was transferred. As a solution the BMC through a resolution asked the KTC to provide half of the bus stand for the road widening. "The accident on this road is sure and taking this into consideration we have demanded with the KTC to provide half of the bus stand for road widening" Riyaz Beg a councillor told Herald. Now, when the bridge seem to be completed again politics seem to be coming in its way. "I was never taken into confidence with regards to the bridge and the government is delaying the inauguration much to their own knowledge" Bicholim MLA, Raejsh Patnekar told denying to comment further. With the delay in inaugurating the bridge the people are still made to travel through the old bridge with the new bridge just becoming a show piece.
