Field visit to the bridge construction site across river Mandovi, Panaji

The Department of Civil Engineering, Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda organized a field visit for the third year Civil students on 20th July 2017 to the bridge construction site across river Mandovi, Panaji which included a visit to the approaches on NH-17 between Pundalik Nagar junction (Porvorim) to Merces junction.
GSIDC awarded this project on EPC contract to L&T Construction Heavy Civil Infrastructure IC. L&T Construction has engaged L&T Infra Engineering as the detailed design consultant. GSIDC has appointed S.N. Bhobe & Associates Pvt. Ltd, Navi Mumbai as the owner’s Engineer. The students were directed to the site by Mr. Rajkumar- Manager, Larsen & Toubro Limited . On site, they informed students of the safety rules and regulations to be followed .Mr. Sanjeev Sinha, Resident Engineer, M/s. TPF Engineering Pvt. Ltd (Goa Regional Office) explained about the different phases of bridge construction. He explained that the bridge being constructed across river Mandovi, Panaji is of 3.1 km in length across the river and includes approaches on NH-17 between Pundalik Nagar junction (Porvorim) to Merces junction. This new cable Stayed Bridge is of 600 m length and 21 m width, having viaduct with length of 3330 m and width of 19.20 m and is being aligned between the two existing bridges to avoid the disturbance to the flow of water. The bridge has a 4 lanes configuration and has Pile Foundation done with Piles of 1500 mm diameter having solid approaches of 504 m length.
He explained the concept of a cable-stayed bridge stating that a cable stayed bridge has pylons, from which cables support the bridge deck. A distinctive feature is the cables which run directly from the tower to the deck, normally form a fan-like pattern or a series of parallel lines. In a cable stayed bridge, depending on its design, the cables carry the bridge deck from one or both sides of the supporting tower. The stay cables carry the deck and transfer all bridge loads to the foundations. This is done by transmitting the cable stay forces, through its extremities; at its anchorage points. Stay cables are firmly attached to the anchorages which are designed to resist the buckling forces of the loads. Mr. Sanjeev Sinha also explained the Precast segmental erection to the students. He explained that precast segments that are constructed in the casting yard are transported on to the site where the lifting of the precast segments is done with bars through the lifting Holes and epoxy is used to join the segments.
A group of 15 civil engineering students accompanied by Asst. Prof. Oswyn Soares and Asst. Prof. Swaroopa Sail visited the site.