Team Goemkarponn
Margao: Citizens led by Margao Congress leader J.P. Savio Coutinho on Wednesday filed a formal police complaint against the contractor and consultant involved in the construction of the Rawanfond Road Over Bridge (ROB), alleging gross negligence and conspiracy leading to public inconvenience and financial loss to the exchequer.
In the complaint submitted to the Margao Town Police Station, Coutinho and others have named M/s M.S. Khurana Engineering Ltd (contractor) and M/s Shrikhande Consultants Pvt. Ltd (consultant), and sought the registration of an FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — Section 290 (criminal negligence), Section 324 (mischief), Section 316 (criminal breach of trust), and Section 61 (criminal conspiracy).
The 6-lane ROB at Rawanfond, being constructed under the aegis of Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), was scheduled to be completed by December 22, 2024. However, the complaint alleges that less than 10% of the work has been completed to date, despite work commencing in December 2022.
According to the complaint, the contractor excavated the embankment of the existing bridge to lay the foundation for the first three lanes, but failed to implement proper earth retention measures. With monsoon rains beginning, the exposed embankment reportedly eroded quickly, damaging the approach road and creating dangerous cracks that now pose a threat to public safety.
“The sheer negligence has not only risked lives but also disrupted traffic, caused mental distress to citizens, and incurred additional costs for repairs and traffic management,” the complaint states. It further alleges that the delays may be intentional to trigger the escalation clause in the contract, inflating project costs and burdening the public exchequer.
Coutinho urged the police to initiate criminal proceedings against both firms and hold them accountable for endangering public infrastructure and misusing government funds.
