Goemakpronn desk
CANACONA: The only bridge over River Saleri providing an important link along MDR-49 road between Agonda and Khola villages is under threat of collapse, as wide cracks have emerged underneath its 2-Spans and the bridge itself had partly lowered at one of the 2-spans on the other side.
The situation is worrisome, particularly in the bridge collapsing era where incidents of dozens of bridges collapsing in the country and a 40-year-old bridge nose-diving in neighbouring Karwar in Karnataka state.
The over 50-metres long 4-pillar Saleri Bridge was completed around 1972-73 linking both Agonda and Khola villages, earlier serviced by Tar (Canoe) helping residents to cross on either either side of the Saleri River, and over a period of time, this bridge assumed significance providing an important link along the State’s MDR-49 road. With the developments of important tourist places on the coastal belts of the both villages of Khola and Agonda, the traffic on this MDR-49 has increased manifold over the years moreover, in the event of any sort of blockages along NH-66 road, highway traffic gets diverted on this MDR-49 road Canaguinim (Junction of MDR 47, MDR 46 and MDR 49) to Nagorcem (on NH-66) at Char-Rasta, Canacona.
The cracks that began to appear on the bridge’s narrow spans underneath (Reinforced concrete (RC) beams) on the Agonda side a year ago, are reportedly getting wider and wider over the period of time.
The cracks get more dangerous as the movement of heavy traffic (often diverted highway traffic) is causing more damage to the bridge, and people expect something worse could befall considering the bridge had already served over 50 years of its lifespan and had gone weak.
Melvin Fernandes of Agonda operating water sports during the tourism season informed, ‘ ‘we could see something is wrong with the bridge and with the so many incidents of bridges collapsing in the country and recently the collapse of 40-year old Karwar bridge in the neighbourhood, the government should take immediate steps to verify its safety before allowing to continue with the traffic particularly heavy traffic.’
Anup Pagi, a resident of Saleri(Khola) informed people standing on the bridge feel increasingly more vibrations whenever vehicles ply on this bridge. However, though getting minor vibrations may not be the cause for raising alarm, the vibrations are themselves alarming, and the widening of the developed cracks to the beams underneath, gives us the feeling that something is badly wrong.
The bridge is also lowered/sank on one side, and is also worrisome’.
Incidentally, the bridge, already handling all types of traffic without any restrictions whatsoever, is seen to have lowered a bit on its Northern-side (Khola side).
The vehicles crossing this bridge get a jerk on reaching this portion of the bridge, giving a clear indication that the bridge has indeed sunk low at its one –span on the Khola side.
This is a clear sign of the bridge collapsing at any moment and not only a thorough inspection of the bridge is required to be done, but the heavy –traffic passing on this bridge needs to be compulsorily regulated till the bridge certified as Fit and Safe, Melvin Fernandes.
Presently, water sports such as kayaking and boating are being held in the backwaters of the northern end of Agonda beach taking place right under this Saleri bridge in River Saleri.
The depth of river water is approximately 20 ft (in low tide) where the cracks that have appeared and go on widening are taking place to the narrow concrete beams underneath the bridge on Agonda’s side.
Fernandes stating PWD should immediately inspect the safety of the bridge for its safety, informed he has already alerted Agonda Sarpanch Preettal Fernandes and also brought it to the notice of Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa of the worrying situation.
Anup Pagi of Saleri(Khola) stated he has also alerted Khola Sarpanch Priyanka Velip seeking the local body’s intervention to inspect the bridge condition before anything worse happens.
