The Zuari Bridge has lately become synonymous with traffic jams and vehicle accidents. Considering the number of accidents and traffic jams on the Agassaim-Cortalim stretch, the new Zuari Bridge will bring some relief from this problem this year.
Vasco Traffic Cell in-charge claims that this year there will not be any traffic jams on the Agassaim-Cortalim stretch.
This year at least thrice there were prolonged traffic jams due to vehicular accidents on the Agassaim-Cortalim stretch. People had to wait for two to three hours to reach their destinations due to the traffic congestion caused by the accidents. In the past few years, the BJP government decided to build a parallel cable-stayed bridge next to the existing Zuari Bridge to resolve the traffic woes on this stretch.
On Monday, for almost four to five hours, people were caught up in a traffic jam which extended from Verna to Agassaim. The actual reason for the traffic jam was multiple accidents which took place at Cortalim, on the Zuari Bridge and the Agassaim side. Yesterday's traffic jam highlighted the relevance of the opening of the new Zuari Bridge.
When contacted, Shailendra Narvekar, Vasco Traffic Cell in-charge, informed us that once the new Zuari cable-stayed bridge is open for traffic movement, the Cortalim traffic jam issue will be resolved.
"People travelling from Vasco and Margao to Panjim will have to use the new Zuari Bridge, whereas those who will be travelling down from North Goa to South Goa will have to take the Old Zuari Bridge that will be one way," PI Narvekar added.
Giving more information about the new bridge, he stated that the new bridge will have a dedicated lane for heavy vehicles (more than 12 tonnes) on which these heavy vehicles will move from Panjim to Margao. Light vehicles and two-wheelers will move from the old Zuari Bridge. The existing old bridge will not have traffic movement from Margao to Panjim. This traffic arrangement will solve traffic issues.
When questioned about the prolonged traffic jam on Monday on the Agassaim-Cortalim stretch, PI Narvekar informed us that this traffic jam happened due to five accidents which took place in the area. Of these accidents, two took place on the Zuari Bridge and others happened under the railway bridge and at the Cortalim junction, which led to the traffic jam.
He further said that during the year-end, additional traffic staff will be deployed to the Cortalim stretch. The toeing crane will be stationed to clear accident vehicles. Most likely there will not be any congestion this year once the new bridge is open for traffic.