Team Herald
PONDA: Incomplete and unused portion of the approach road of four-lane Khandepar Bridge has become safe haven for drunkards. The worried locals have called upon the authorities, especially the police, to crack down on the drunkards who have turned the place their den.
Locals led by their leader Vishwanath Naik on Tuesday briefed the media on the state of affairs of approach road and how it has become a den for the drunkards. The locals demanded that before crimes are committed at the place, the authorities act against the nefarious elements who gather there at night.
The Khandepar Bridge was inaugurated a year ago without completing the approach road towards Ponda. In absence of approach road, it has been closed for safety of commuters. However, taking advantage of the unused road, some drunkards are using the place for liquor parties.
According to Vishwanath Naik, youth from outside Khandepar are coming to the place at night for drinking and committing immoral activities. “Bottles are thrown on the bridge by unknown people who are coming to this bridge at night,” he said.
Earlier, Khandepar locals used to take evening walks on the unused portion of the bridge, but due to nuisance created by the drunkards, they have stopped coming for walk. “Besides, the malfunctioning streetlights have made the bridge a convenient place for antisocial elements,” Naik said.
It is understood that the approach road of the bridge could not be completed as a house owner filed a petition in Court challenging the approach road work.
As the approach road is incomplete, vehicles coming from Belgaum, this bridge after crossing the four-lane bridge, take the service road to proceed towards Ponda.
