The widening of the NH 17 into six lanes, 3 on either side with a median in the middle without considering the safety aspects of motorists is going on full swing and needs a thorough introspection.
The PWD contractors are known to take shortcuts to get the job done at a fast pace and economically. As the attached picture illustrates there are no hazard lights put up to warn the motorists of the impending dangers lying ahead especially at night. At some places, blue colour sandbags are placed at the shoulders of the dug-up section which is about 2 meters deep and which are not luminous.
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This is a recipe for disaster waiting to happen. This widening is from Fr Agnel Ashram upto Nuvem Carmel College.
There is a Western bypass already in place which could have served the purpose. Hopefully, the CPWD and MORTH who are incharge of National Highways will rethink and put safety measures in place before some disaster takes place. We have already seen at the Panaji Smart City works atleast 3 lives were lost due to haphazard road works planning and the latest was a person from St Estevam lost his life when his scooter fell into an unlit trench on the Ribandar to Old Goa Road.
