Traffic Police claim that they are doing all they can to mitigate the problem. Ever since work on the third Mandovi Bridge commenced at the road divider near the Sai Service, the width of both roads at the site decreased substantially, allowing barely one vehicle to ride on the narrow road at any given time.
As a result, a huge queue is seen near the Hero Motors junction as hundreds of vehicles jostle for space while moving to and from the twin Mandovi bridges. During peak hours, the lines reach as far as the Porvorim Petrol pump and it takes nearly an hour just to pass the roadwork near Sai Service.
Ambulances rushing patients to the hospitals are often held up, while office-goers and school and college students are also severely inconveniences due to these traffic jams.
Traffic Police say that they have removed the barricades near Mandovi Bridge and have allowed traffic proceeding from the Reis Magos-Betim road to proceed directly towards the bridge.
According to authorities, the company constructing the Mandovi Bridge needs space of seven-and-half metres on either side from the centre of the road. The width of each road is 15 metres. Hence, only seven-and half metres are left for the vehicles to proceed towards the bridge from Sai Service.
