TEAM HERALD
SANGUEM: People proceeding to Bhati, Villian, Neturlim and Uguem in Sanguem are irked over the non-removal of electricity transformer which lies in the middle of the main road at Uguem junction.
The transformer was earlier located by the side of the road proceeding to Neturlim. However, ever since the hot mixing of the road proceeding to Uguem from Sanguem and Bhati was undertaken, the transformer occupied the centre of the road as the road at Uguem junction was widened at the time of hot mixing.
As the transformer now lies in the middle of the road with no warning signs installed anywhere in the vicinity, locals fear that motorists might dash against the live transformer.
A villager, Anthony Colaco, said several motorists narrowly missed riding and driving into the transformer but not without minor injuries. “A couple of two-wheeler riders sustained minor injuries after having a fall on noticing the transformer at the last moment,” he said.
Colaco claimed that the situation turns all the more worst for visitors to Uguem and other nearby villages and to foreign tourists who visit Netravali on weekends as the transformer becomes noticeable only at the last moment as it is located at a sharp curve on the road.
Moreover, the motorists from Bhati and Neturlim are in a double state of mind over which side to proceed as the road from Bhati village is divided into two roads at Uguem junction due to the transformer which lies at the centre of the road. Similar confusion is created in the mind of the motorists proceeding to Bhati on reaching Uguem junction.
Another villager, Joao Piedade Mascarenhas, said the authorities concerned had assured to construct a circle at the Uguem junction on completion of the hot mixing of the road proceeding to Bhati. However, more than three months have elapsed since the completion of the hot mixing of the road to Bhati, but there are no signs of construction of the circle at the location.
Though no major accident has occurred as of date, the villagers have urged the authorities to construct the circle at Uguem junction at the earliest and have also appealed to the authorities to shift the transformer to an alternative and safer location.
Anthony Colaco has also urged the authorities to install a speed breaker opposite Sunil bar at the junction. The need to install the speed breaker is necessitated due to the cross road which proceeds to Pedamol-Uguem and the other proceeding to Kalay.
