The Public Works Department (PWD) of Goa has taken a major step towards replacing the ageing Borim bridge. Its national highways division has submitted a detailed project report worth a staggering Rs 1,000 crore to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for approval.
Project Timeline and Key Approvals
PWD Minister Digambar Kamat announced that the ambitious project is likely to be ready by 2028. The state government is poised to float tenders for construction soon after receiving the crucial sanction from the central government.
Chief Engineer of the PWD's national highways division, Dattaprasad Kamat, provided an update on the preparatory work. He confirmed that land acquisition for the approach roads to the new bridge has been completed. Compensation for those affected by this process will be disbursed shortly, clearing a significant hurdle for the project.
Why a New Bridge is Essential
The push for a new structure stems from safety concerns regarding outdated construction techniques. Power Minister and former PWD minister, Ramkrishna 'Sudin' Dhavalikar, explained the rationale. He stated that modern techniques will be adopted for the new Borim bridge, moving away from the cantilever system used in the existing bridge built in 1974.
"A cantilever bridge over the Kali river in Karnataka has collapsed, and the old Zuari bridge — which also uses the same system — has weakened," Dhavalikar said. "The state government has therefore decided to stop using the cantilever bridge technique while constructing these vital links in the future."
Addressing Delays and Current Safety
Dhavalikar also addressed the reasons behind the delay in commencing work on the new bridge. He clarified that it was due to legal challenges from the public regarding its road alignment, not government inaction. "The road alignment is the same that was done in 2014-15. Only the location of the bridge has changed," he added.
To ensure public safety in the interim, the minister assured that the ongoing fortification of the existing Borim bridge is being supervised by IIT engineers. He claimed the strengthened bridge would pose no risk for at least the next five years.
This fortification work has been ongoing. In November last year, Maharashtra-based Sanrachana Structural Strengthening Pvt Ltd completed installing central hinge bearings and other rehabilitation tasks. Prior to that, in April 2018, Mumbai's Fressinet India Ltd carried out external pre-stressing by tightening cables at a cost of Rs 9.9 crore to bolster this crucial link over the Zuari river.
