PANJIM: The ongoing “haphazard” Smart City works, currently underway in the State’s capital, have turned Panjim into a city of accidents and traffic congestion. Rampant digging of roads across Panjim is the main reason for traffic congestion and travelling short distances in the city now takes motorists longer than expected.
The travel time from Panjim to Verna is now 20-25 minutes, however, commuters are taking nearly 40 minutes to cover a short distance from Patto-Panjim to Miramar on account of the traffic congestion which is common on arterial roads such as Dayanand Bandodkar Road as well as internal roads of the capital city.
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The road infrastructure work that has been expedited in view of the G20 Summit is also another cause of traffic congestion in the city.
Tonca Circle to the Sewerage Treatment Plant stretches at National Theatre, and road from Expert Pharmacy to Madhuban Circle has been blocked for traffic.
The stretch from Tonca Circle to the Sewerage Treatment Plant has been blocked for traffic, only residents are seen using their vehicles. The small stretches at National Theatre, near the Saraswati Mandir building and the road from Expert Pharmacy to Madhuban Circle have been completely blocked due to ongoing smart city works.
The commuters complained that the contractors entrusted with the road digging work for laying internal pipelines, sewer lines, electrical cables, etc, have been undertaking the same in a haphazard manner thereby putting the lives of citizens at risk.
There have been seven incidents reported where city roads have caved in and trucks have gotten stuck. Such incidents have occurred at St Inez, near the Government Printing Press, Azad Maidan and the heritage Sao Tome area the most recent incident which was reported on Saturday. In one of the incidents, four labourers, who were injured, were hospitalised. The roads in these areas that caved in have been filled with mud and poorly restored.
“Multiple works have been undertaken simultaneously. These huge holes dug up along the roadside are a death trap. Who will take responsibility if any untoward incident takes place and if there is loss of human life,” Rishi Prabhudesai, a resident of Panjim questioned.
Another resident Asif Shaikh alleged that the authorities concerned have failed to take any action against the contractors, who have violated the safety norms.
“The Government ought to fix responsibility. Those violating safety norms and putting the lives of residents and labourers engaged in work should not be spared,” Shaikh demanded.
“People are compelled to travel in a dusty environment and many have reported having taken ill on account of the dust pollution across the city and with each passing day the air quality is deteriorating. The authorities ought to take required measures before the situation turns worse for the residents and commuters,” said Rituja Naik, another resident.
