Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA: The innovative repair of a dilapidated bridge by replacing the underneath rusted iron-bars has evoked a keen interest amongst the public in Canacona.
A few months ago, an old culvert bridge nearby to the Loliem KRC Station, in the interior of Loliem village, was highlighted for its precarious situation, whereby the culvert – the bridge was badly dilapidated, withstanding dangerously as its underneath has literally given away (exposing the rusted iron rods were protruding out and falling from the concrete slab-).
Apparently taking cognizance of the culvert-bridge condition highlighted by print and electronic media, and as part of the repair, PWD has now cleaned the rusted Iron-bars partly and partly removed the badly rusted and falling iron-bars cage from the culvert- bridge’s cemented-concrete underneath.
The PWD-engaged man force has now fitted a newly framed Iron-bars cage at the bridge-underneath and is presently involved in burying the iron cage with cement plastering.
Incidentally, locals showed keen interest in the repair mode, with some claiming that the repair is according to the engineering works of the bridge. ‘ How long this cement plastering would remain, and whether the iron bars cage fitted and plastered underneath as a replacement for the worn-out iron bars from the concrete will actually help to share the weight of the culvert bridge and strengthen it? Will it remain, and if so, for how long?’, asked a local Vishant Prabhu.
Prabhu even gave a classic example, saying that if he changed a sick man’s shirt and made him look fresh, the sickness of his body would go away.
Stating the concrete is literarily one and a half ft above the newly erected Iron-road cage and how could the iron cage can bear the bridge-culvert weight on it; locals also stated instead of carrying out this eye-hiding repair, a new bridge needs to be constructed in place of the worn-out and dilapidated culvert. “This bridge can come down or collapse at any time,” opined a villager.
“We have an honest demand, that a new bridge needs to be constructed by demolishing this weak and dilapidated culvert, and avert fear of any fatality in future”, said Prabhu.
