Team Herald
PERNEM: The highway between Patradevi and Dhargal has become a death trap due to the ongoing four-lane work and yet the authorities appear least bothered to do anything to arrest the increasing number of accidents.
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The work of NH- widening commenced in 2018 and since then 20 people have lost their lives. In the same year, 51 accidents occurred on this stretch of road, in which 70 suffered major injuries while 11 died. In 2019, 52 accidents occurred in which 41 were injured and seven died.
And since January 2020 till date, 13 accidents have occurred in which seven were seriously injured, while two died. Most of the injured have suffered permanent disability.
Despite several agitations and road blockades by the people of Pernem demanding steps for preventing accidents, the authorities and the highway contractor have not done anything to mitigate the situation.
Several representations were also submitted to the Pernem deputy collector, mamlatdar and the police demanding criminal action against the highway contractor for failing to put in place safety measures to prevent accidents. However, no action has been taken against the contractor till date.
“There is a dangerous curve at Torxem. Instead of eliminating the curve, this particular turn has now turned more dangerous and there have been several accidents here and many have died. Also most of the fatal accidents have occurred after 6pm because the highway contactor has failed to provide electricity on the road. No signals, no reflectors and the pathetic condition of the road along with the irresponsible attitude of the highway contactor have taken away the lives of several people,” said Sanjana Kanolkar, a local.
“Work of the highway extension is going on without keeping the security of the commuters in place. Due to the irrepressible attitude of the people, several families have been destroyed wherein they have lost their bread earners. The government should take strict action against the highway contractor and a criminal case should be filed, “added Siddhesh Sawant, another local.
