CANACONA: With authorities declaring 13 road stretches in Goa as death traps, locals here have raised questions over the non-categorisation of NH66 in Canacona as dangerous, even though at least one major accident was reported on this stretch daily since last 6 months, residents allege.
It is common knowledge that NH66 road passing through Canacona is the only link to the southern States which include Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu notwithstanding the closure of road via Anmod Ghat which has added more stress on the narrow and blind curvy road in Canacona which contributes to most of the accidents on the NH66 here.
The road itself has not seen any alterations except some cosmetic makeover since it was constructed during the Portuguese rule and the road has had a long accident-filled history while witnessing many accidents in recent years some of which were fatal in which young lives were lost, in most of the cases the only bread earners in the family.
After being spectator to so many accidents on this stretch and no action from Highway officials, the locals, aiming to draw the attention of the authorities, have even named this stretch of NH66 from Polem to Balli as “Road to Hell”.
Despite these accidents finding mention on the mainstream media in the State, it’s definitely odd to find that HAKS didn’t find any reason to mark this stretch as dangerous or accident prone.
The failure of HAKS to mark this stretch as dangerous or accident prone has led the locals to believe that the company officers, by sitting in their office at Chennai, made their observation on the basis of the data submitted to them by the transport department.
Manoj Prabhugaonkar, a Canacona resident who stays beside the NH66, said, “It is well dispersed fact in Goa that Canacona and nearby NH66 road has witnessed more accidents than any other road stretch in Goa and the officials have to take HAKS to task over improper study conducted by them.”
When this fact was brought to the knowledge of Director of Transport Rajan Satardekar, he readily accepted the fact and assured to take up the issue with the departments concerned.
