Locals of island Diwar, Vanxim pin hopes on polls for bridge

For residents Diwar and Vanxim, water locked by river Mandovi in Goa, the upcoming assembly election is yet another opportunity to press for their long pending demand of a bridge that will connect them to mainland.

Residents of the twin islands have been demanding a bridge between Diwar to Ribander, or Diwar to Old Goa, which will also facilitate people from Vanxim to travel to the main city.

Currently, there are two ferry boats that link people of Diwar, known for its traditional festivals like 'Bonderam' (festival of flags), to Ribander and Old Goa. Residents of Vanxim on the other hand, first take a ferry to Diwar and from there another to reach Ribandar or Old Goa, which is dotting Panaji city.
 

According to locals, they have made the demand on several occasions to the BJP-led state government, which has constructed a number of bridges across the state.

"There are some people who are wealthy, who don't want the bridge but most people in both the islands want a bridge to be constructed," social worker Jerry D'Souza, who has been at the forefront of a signature campaign on the issue, said.

The picturesque Diwar island, which is home to traditional Portuguese-era houses, has witnessed minor protests in the past demanding a bridge, but none turned into an effective one, given the peace-loving nature of the people, D'Souza's said, adding that his signature campaign organised at Diwar also failed to fetch desired results.

Located near Panaji, people in Diwar are put to test during medical emergencies and patients have to be taken to hospitals through ferry service and the problems compound during an emergency in night.

D'Souza, however, said that a lot of development has taken place in Diwar like getting underwater pipeline, but bridge demand is a key necessity for island dwellers.

"Few years back, you would have had to go through a bumpy ride to reach to any place on this island. But in the last two years, roads are tarred. Development has happened here," he said.