Miramar's 'white elephant' FOB may go
Newton Sequeira | TNN | Apr 8, 2019, 11:41 IST
The foot overbridge remains a white elephant along the Miramar promenade while continuing to occupy space and block trafficPANAJI: Nearly three years after Goa police expressed concern over the condition of the foot overbridge opposite Sharada Mandir School, the state authorities are finally considering a proposal to dismantle the "practically unutilised" structure.
In a meeting held on April 3, the state level high-powered steering committee (SLHPC) headed by chief secretary Parimal Rai deliberated on the issue and has in principle agreed that the structure, built at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore, poses a risk to pedestrians and is perceived as a "redundant asset" in the city.
Built by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) and opened for the public in July 2012, the bridge remained unutilised after parents and children complained that the bridge was "inconvenient."
"It is perceived as a redundant asset without offering much value to the pedestrians and the community," a note which was circulated at the SLHPC for deliberation said.
In June 2016, Goa police (Traffic) wrote to the then commissioner of CCP recommending the removal of the foot overbridge that was constructed on Jack Sequeira Road.
"The pillars of the foot bridge, which were earlier within the road divider are now left open on the road itself, posing threat to the motorists. The absence of any barricading around the pillars may result in serious accidents, especially during night," said deputy superintendent of police (North Goa) (Traffic) Dharmesh Angle had said in the note to CCP.
Despite the risks outlined, CCP failed to act and the structure remains a white elephant along the Miramar promenade while continuing to occupy space and block traffic.
"The foot overbridge as on this day remains practically unutilised by the pedestrians to cross the road primarily on account of the faulted design to the approach staircase to the foot bridge which is at a significant height which the pedestrians find extremely difficult to use," states a note that was put before the SLHPC for discussion.
The area from the Miramar circle to the Goa Science Centre turns into a huge unauthorised parking lot every morning and in the afternoon as parents haphazardly park their vehicles while they wait to collect their children.
Children getting dropped off and then fetched from Sharada Mandir School cross the road making traffic congestion a daily affair even as parents refuse to use the foot overbridge.
In a meeting held on April 3, the state level high-powered steering committee (SLHPC) headed by chief secretary Parimal Rai deliberated on the issue and has in principle agreed that the structure, built at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore, poses a risk to pedestrians and is perceived as a "redundant asset" in the city.
Built by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) and opened for the public in July 2012, the bridge remained unutilised after parents and children complained that the bridge was "inconvenient."
"It is perceived as a redundant asset without offering much value to the pedestrians and the community," a note which was circulated at the SLHPC for deliberation said.
In June 2016, Goa police (Traffic) wrote to the then commissioner of CCP recommending the removal of the foot overbridge that was constructed on Jack Sequeira Road.
"The pillars of the foot bridge, which were earlier within the road divider are now left open on the road itself, posing threat to the motorists. The absence of any barricading around the pillars may result in serious accidents, especially during night," said deputy superintendent of police (North Goa) (Traffic) Dharmesh Angle had said in the note to CCP.
Despite the risks outlined, CCP failed to act and the structure remains a white elephant along the Miramar promenade while continuing to occupy space and block traffic.
"The foot overbridge as on this day remains practically unutilised by the pedestrians to cross the road primarily on account of the faulted design to the approach staircase to the foot bridge which is at a significant height which the pedestrians find extremely difficult to use," states a note that was put before the SLHPC for discussion.
The area from the Miramar circle to the Goa Science Centre turns into a huge unauthorised parking lot every morning and in the afternoon as parents haphazardly park their vehicles while they wait to collect their children.
Children getting dropped off and then fetched from Sharada Mandir School cross the road making traffic congestion a daily affair even as parents refuse to use the foot overbridge.
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