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Footbridge at Colva no longer safe to cross over

Colva: A footbridge leading to the Colva beach has developed holes and may pose threat to the visitors as the authorities involved in the beautification of beach works have neglected it for quite some time.

In January this year, TOI had carried a report stating that another footbridge was showing signs of stress and its steel bars were exposed.



Responding to the report, the GTDC projects manager Pramod Badami had said the problem would be fixed and the expenses would be adjusted from the funds allotted by the Centre for the beach beautification. However, the situation remains the same.

Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) had begun the beautification work at a cost of Rs 11.67 crore in January. To make Colva an iconic beach for the visitors, corporation had taken up the beautification of existing islands, children’s play area, pathways, building parking slots, drainage and toilet blocks.

An official from GTDC pointed fingers at the Public Works Department (PWD) for the neglect. “The bridge was built by PWD and GTDC has no role in its maintenance,” he said, adding, “The construction of a new bridge was delayed due to the CRZ norms.”

A PWD engineer on condition of anonymity said the tourism department had taken over all the infrastructure upkeep works and his department does not come into the picture except for tarring of the roads.

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