The Zuari bridge connects the north to the south of goa and is an important link without which Goa can be technically broken into half . both half's literally cutoff from each other. It was completed in April 1983. It was constructed by Gamon India Limited.
Crossing the Zuari Bridge |
( Excerpts from Zuari bridge on verge of collapse ?- 10 June 1997 )
The Honavar bridge in North Canara, which is still struggling to survive, is an old story. The Mandovi bridge in Goa, which collapsed in 1986 - within 16 years - is also the history. But the possibility of repeating the same history with Zuari and Borim bridges in Goa and Kali river bridge in Karwar, a major link between Goa and Karnataka, is a danger of the future.
The Zuari bridge, a major link between two districts of Goa, is now closed for heavy traffic since April, within 14 years since commissioned. Tenders have already been floated for a parallel bridge on Build, Operate and Transfer basis as the existing bridge won't last for long.
Next in the line may be the Borim bridge in Goa, showing similar signs of deterioration. Experts also do not rule out the possibility of the Kali river bridge meeting the same fate. All the bridges are on the National Highway and built under supervision of the Ministry of Surface Transport (MoST). In times when we have the latest technology bridges in Goa such as the Aldona Cable Bridge, the state of such bridges is really pathetic specifically when the Zuari bridge is one of the most important road link used by thousand visiting Goa's southern side from the north
The Rehabilitation work continues even to this date |
The Konkan Railway Bridge
Running parallel to the Zuari bridge is the Konkan railway bridge. This bridge is the longest bridge of the konkan railway.
The longest bridge on the konkan railway |