Experts inspect Saleri bridge, report in 15 days

Canacona: After locals of Agonda and Khola raised concerns over the tilting of Saleri bridge and the cracks developed to its spans and pillars, a mobile bridge inspection unit (MBIU) from Hyderabad carried out a test to check stability of the 5-decade old bridge.The team used special equipment to conduct the core-cutting test.Though the official report will be made available within 15 days, sources informed that the preliminary findings revealed two of the four pillars have become very weak and the girders too are in precarious condition.The bridge is the only connection on the MDR-49 (major district road) linking Agonda and Khola. If it collapses, then the people from either side will remain cut-off.Some locals said the bridge has outlived its lifespan and demanded a new bridge.During the inspection, Canacona police managed the traffic by restricting the movement of heavy vehicles for more than two hours.