By: Matthew Desouza
MAPUSA: The state government has finalised plans to construct a new bridge parallel to the existing old bridge across river Tar in Mapusa, local MLA Joshua D’Souza said recently.
“The plan is to have two parallel bridges with a four-lane system. The proposed bridge will be built first and the old one will be replaced later,” D’Souza, who is also the vice-chairman of Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation, said. The foundation stone will be laid in a month and the new bridge is expected to be constructed by early 2022.
This project, he said, will help decongest the area as the vehicular traffic has increased on the bridge and it becomes difficult to manage the traffic with the bridge being narrow.
The bridge connects several villages including Aldona, Moira, Nachinola, Pomburpa, Salvador do Mundo, Socorro, Ucassaim and Bastora to Mapusa town. Mapusa is a commercial hub and many of these neighbouring villages depend on it for their daily requirements like groceries, fish, etc.
The new bridge will not have a pillar constructed in the middle of the river, and hence, will not pose a threat to the flow of the river.
D’Souza said that they would like to avoid any debris being dumped into the river, a problem that has affected the flow of the river during the highway construction.
The river was recently inspected by both the Mapusa MLA and the chairperson of Mapusa Municipal Council Shubhangi Vaingankar along with all the stakeholders and government officials.
