Part of Ribandar causeway side wall gives way

PANAJI: A half-meter long side section of the Portuguese-era Ribandar causeway collapsed on Wednesday evening. Even though a small portion was affected, the North Goa collector’s office issued instructions to divert traffic as a precaution for the safety of commuters.
Traffic personnel were posted to monitor flow of vehicles at the site, while PWD officials said that the repair work would be taken up by 8.30am on Thursday and that work is expected to be completed within 24 hours.
The historic Ponte de Linhares (Linhares bridge) was constructed by the Portuguese to link Panaji to Old Goa via the village of Ribander. And the 383-year-old bridge still continues to serve as a useful link.
The bridge was once considered the longest bridge in Asia, and is perhaps India’s oldest. Built in 1634 for horse-drawn carriages, it has withstood the devastation of time and is today used by all kinds of traffic, including buses.
As part of the move to promote pedestrianisation and protect the Portuguese-built structure, the state government in 2017 mooted the proposal to close the Ponte de Linhares bridge, or Ribandar causeway, for traffic permanently. The proposal was part of the Smart City Mission.
Officials say the bridge can survive a few more years if traffic is phased out or brought to a complete stop.
In 2016, North Goa collector Nila Mohanan had declared the bridge unsafe for heavy traffic and had notified that traffic had to be stopped, PWD officials said.