Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Atal Sethu, which has become a significant embarrassment for the ruling BJP government due to the frequent potholes and faulty approach roads, will remain close for another 20 day5 days.
The Department of Information informed that the
District Magistrate, North Goa has extended closure of Atal Setu Arm from Merces Circle up to November 22.
“The Atal Setu Arm from Merces Circle will be shut up to midnight of November 21 and 22, 2021 till midnight of December 15 and 16, 2021 to carry out repairs at the Atal Setu Arm,” the release said.
When contacted, PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar said that the extension was due to a delay in works.
“The Bridge was shut for 100 days, but the closure had to be extended due to technical fault. Also, the rains have delayed works,” he said.
Pauskar said that the department does not want works to be carried out in a hurry for it to be damaged again.
The Bridge was closed on August 12 for 100 days for repairs, but the works have not been completed.
Bridge closure for the third time in two years…
The Atal Setu has been closed third times to carry out repairs on the sub-standard work.
Last year too, the Merces arm was closed for traffic to repair the faulty approach road. The closure sought for 30 days was extended over three months.
The Bridge was also closed in the past for pothole repairs.
Sub-standard work, corruption….
The media has repeatedly pointed out the sub-standard work on the Atal Setu, but the government is in denial mode, saying the potholes and defects are superficial.
Even 31 months after the inauguration of the third Mandovi bridge, it is “jaise the” (as it is). There has been no progress in the completion o the Bridge, even as the cost escalation continues.
The Bridge, estimated to cost ₹385 cr then, has cost around ₹581 cr to date, and the work is not done yet.
Indeed, this Bridge has become a goose laying the golden eggs for the government and the GSIDC.
The Bridge, termed as an engineering marvel, has become an “engineering disaster” with several defects and has been closed for repairs many times.
Not just that, the hot mix has given way several times and “n” numbers of repairs have been carried out by the Contractor Larsen and Tubro, which points to major technical failure.
Also, the KTC circle at Panaji has become a mess due to the Bridge piers on the main road.
Forget the failures; the work on the Panaji arm of the Bridge, which was to be fully completed in 2019, has been shockingly abandoned by the Contractor.
