The residents, especially shopkeepers, have complained of running into losses due to the project, which is being undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 4.5 crore and the same has been causing traffic snarls during peak hours.
The Chopdem junction, the most travelled area, has some shops at the roadside. The four-metre high retaining wall has created a major problem to these shop owners.Herald spoke to some of the shop owners, who complained of running into losses due to the development works.
“We have been running a horticulture shop since the last nine years. But due to this retaining wall half of our shop cannot be seen from the road. It’s getting difficult for us to get customers. Only our regular customers are visiting the shop due to which half of the stock got spoilt in the last 8 days. We were not informed in advance about this work nor were we told what will be done later”.
Another shop owner offer similar sentiments said, “Our shop can be seen even after the retaining wall but due to the ongoing work people have stopped visiting our shop”.
A local from Morjim said, “The circle, which is being constructed, is too big. We don’t need such a huge circle at the junction. Also the work has started on both the sides of the road. The authorities could have started with one road and by doing this the traffic could have been managed”.
“The huge circle, which is being constructed at the Chopdem junction, has created confusion between people and due to this there traffic congestion in the area and many accidents have taken place. The development work done by the government should benefit the people and not harm their livelihood,” said Dayanand Sopte, a local.
