Some bridges in Goa built without approach roads, says CAG

Some bridges in Goa has been built by the state Public Works Department without necessary access roads, rendering them unapproachable and resulting in "unfruitful" expenditure, the CAG said in its report.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report for fiscal 2014-15 was tabled in the state Assembly by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today.

"The PWD constructed a foot-bridge over Velus river (in Sattari taluka) at a cost of Rs 0.63 crore, without having any access or approaches, rendering the bridge unapproachable by the public," the CAG report said.

In yet another instance, the PWD spent Rs 3.16 crore on construction of Benaulim-Sinquetim bridge (in South Goa) across river Sal, which had to be abandoned due to lack of environmental clearance and stiff opposition from the local people, it said adding, "This bridge, too, doesn't have an access road."
 

The CAG also took a dig at State Transport Department for constructing bus stands without assessing their suitability.

"The Transport Department requested in May 2006 to Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) to take up construction of bus stands on priority at Shiroda (South Goa) and Honda (North Goa)," it reads.

"The bus stands at Shiroda and Honda were handed over to Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd for operation in January 2009. Our scrutiny revealed that the bus stands and facilities within were under-utilised in the past six years," it pointed out.