MARGAO, APRIL 26
Agitated residents of Raia took to the streets at Arlem on late Sunday night in protest against the indifference by the concerned authorities to the increasing number of accidents on the four-lane highway.
The residents blocked the main Borim-Margao road with stones and an electric pole and later with blazing palm leaves.
What forced the residents to take this extreme step was an accident late this evening involving a motorcyclist and a cyclist after the two-wheeler hit a road divider.
Residents pointed out that this vital road, which is being widened into a four-lane highway, had virtually become an accident-prone zone due to faulty road engineering.
They said the present road alignment is not as per specifications resulting in a number of accidents.
They lamented that despite several accidents and representations to the authorities, no signboards have been erected nor the is being road illuminated.
As the residents refused to lift the blockade despite repeated pleas by the police, Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco rushed to Arlem to calm down frayed tempers.
Sympathising with the genuine demands of the locals, Lourenco immediately contacted PWD Executive Engineer, Anil Ringe to come to the spot.
In the meantime, as no PWD official was found present at the spot, the agitated residents set afire palm leaves and other waste and placed them on the road at around 11 pm.
They demanded to know whether the PWD authorities will act and rectify the faults only after human lives are lost on the roads.
The Curtorim MLA told Herald that the dividers erected in the middle of the widened road is a cause of many accidents and called for immediate rectification.
The Maina-Curtorim police requisitioned the services of IRB platoon, while a fire tender as stationed at the site as precautionary measure.
Vehicles on both sides of the road were left stranded for an hour even as the authorities were negotiating with the locals for lifting of the blockade.
After much persuasions, the residents lifted the blockade at midnight.
