The Rawanfond bridge at Margao which was to be ready before the monsoons is still not up. Thanks to the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), even the road built to divert traffic was washed away in the first rains. CALVERT GONSALVES investigates.

THE CONSTRUCTION of the new Rawanfond bridge on the outskirts of Margao was tendered for Rs 1.43 crore. The tender was awarded to Laximi Civil Engineering services, a Kholapur based company. The work order was given on 6 th February 2004 and work commenced on 26 th February. The bridge was to be completed in six months. This Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) contracted bridge was to be 18 mts in length and 19 mts wide with four lanes with a pedestrian pathway at the side.

WASHED AWAY: Scooterists and pedestrians were forced to wade through after the road was washed away.

According to the Deputy Manager of GSIDC Eduardo Pereira, one of the main reasons for delay was the Telecommunication Department (BSNL), which took as long as two months to shift the telephone cables which were at the side of the old bridge. It is learnt that the contractor did not start the demolishing work of the old bridge since the telephone company imposes heavy fines if their cables are cut or damaged. However the head of the BSNL in Margao Soni ridiculed the claim of GSIDC and informed that the BSNL promptly shifted the cables when requested. Soni claimed that GSIDC is only trying to push the blame on BSNL to cover its incompetence and lack of professional planning.

Even more appalling, well placed sources divulged, was the fact that the GSIDC failed to identify the uneven geographical conditions. At the time of soil testing, the Engineer only tested one spot on either side of the rivulet for the underground rocky layer on which the foundation of the bridge was to be put. In both the spots, the rocky layer was found at a depth of 1 ½ mts below the rivulet. The foundation base was to be 19 mts wide at both ends with each side having 14 piles (concrete pillars) at equidistance. The estimated cost of the new bridge was calculated based on the soil report, which indicated the underground rocky layer to be 1½ mts deep. However, this calculation eventually at the time of starting work, turned out to be totally incorrect and was the cause of the disaster since on both sides of the rivulet, the level of the underground rocky layer was totally uneven and varied at various points. This was adversely disproportionate to the soil testing report. In most areas, the rocky level was alarmingly as deep as 5 ½ mts. At this juncture, there was no option but to discontinue further work.

MAKESHIFT BRIDGE: The bailey that is put up to help pedestrians cross over.

With the early monsoons and with the old bridge already demolished, the GSIDC found themselves in a hopeless situation. After the first moderate monsoon downpour, the newly constructed pedestrian road on the eastern side of the site was submerged thus totally cutting links to the other side. With people agitating, the GSIDC directed the contractor to erect a 18 mts long and 2.9mts wide Bailey bridge costing Rs 9 lakhs to enable pedestrians and two wheelers to cross the rivulet. According to the contractor, the Bailey bridge is to be fully operational by 17 th June.

This is a clear case of squandering public funds, due to lack of proper planning. A similar situation was averted when very villagers and NGO’s who foresaw the submergence of the makeshift road forcefully stopped the demolition of the Mungul Bridge.

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