Goa’s outlanders thrilled to connect with their homeland

Mapusa: Residents of Tiracol are witnessing their dream of being part of Goa’s mainland come true as work on the Keri-Tiracol bridge connecting a certain region of Tiracol - separated by the river and bordering Maharashtra - to Goa has begun in full swing. It will be the first bridge in the state facing the sea and is likely to boost tourism in that region, as the historic Tiracol fort has many visitors all round the year.
More than a half century after Goa’s liberation and after decades of neglect, it is hard for residents of Tiracol to believe that the project has finally taken shape. The 535m-long bridge, that is estimated to cost Rs 76.77crore, is expected to be completed by November 2015. Nearly 350 residents, belonging to that region of Tiracol separated by the river, will now have direct access to the mainland.
Geographically, Tiracol is a ward of Keri village panchayat in Mandrem constituency, but the only way that these residents can travel Goa’s mainland is via a ferry at Keri. Despite being a part of Goa, these families have to rely completely on Maharashtra for all their basic needs such as electricity, water and telephone lines. Even access to school and healthcare facilities is a big challenge for these residents.
“We were depending on Maharashtra for our daily needs even though juristically we vote for Goan constituencies. Once the bridge is constructed, we will finally feel like we belong to Goa,” said Francis Rodrigues, a ward member, explaining why they feel like outlanders in a state that is actually their own.
Sources claimed that the bridge, when lit up with special LED lighting, will look similar to the Sydney harbour bridge. The bridge will also make commuting easier for travelers visiting Vengurla and the pristine beaches of Maharashtra.
The site supervisor informed that the soil testing process is over and work on the poles has begun. Presently, commuters who employ the Keri-Tiracol ferry route face a lot of hardships because of the deposition of sand at the ferry point at Keri, which makes it difficult for the ferry to anchor. The ferry is anchored about 10m away from the wharf and it becomes extremely difficult for commuters – traveling by foot or vehicle - to board the ferry.
Locals claim that this problem exists all through the year but the situation worsens during the monsoon. “During low tide, ferry services have to be completely suspended,” a local complained.