ANIL SHANKWALKER
PORVORIM
The widened highway in front of District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) at Porvorim should have facilitated better flow of traffic. Instead, the presence of electricity poles on the widened portion of the highway has jeopardized traffic proceeding from Mapusa to Panjim.
Despite the danger to motorists, the electricity department has refused to shift the poles till the Public Works Department (PWD) pays shifting charges of Rs 35 lakh to the electricity department or if an underground cable project gets underway.
The PWD recently widened and hot-mixed the stretch of road to construct bus bays, but the electricity department is yet to shift the electricity poles. A few accidents have already taken place along this portion of the road, after motorists were unable to notice the electricity poles.
Speaking to Herald, Porvorim Welfare Residents Association Secretary Juino D’Souza said any road has to be cleared of all the obstacles.
“These electricity poles have become an impediment for vehicular traffic, especially during darkness. Many a times, it has been observed that PWD carries out widening and asphalting of roads without shifting the electricity poles,” he said.
“Unless obstacles are removed, the road should not be thrown open to vehicular traffic. The PWD should ensure that the electricity poles are first shifted and then the road widening work is undertaken,” said D’Souza.
“There is one more electricity pole on the road right at the turning point near Government High School which obstructs smooth movement of vehicular traffic. The electricity department on its own should shift all these poles without waiting for the tragedy to occur,” added D’Souza.
When contacted, Porvorim Power Sub Station Assistant Engineer Anil Kumar informed that there are 19 electricity poles on the stretch of road from DIET till Sai Service, which should be shifted due to widening of roads.
“PWD is required to pay shifting charges of Rs 35 lakh to the electricity department. Since the electricity department has sill not received the amount from PWD, the poles have not been shifted as yet,” informed Kumar.
“The State government plans to lay underground cable of 11 KV from Porvorim power sub station to the Assembly complex and the estimated cost is about Rs 6 crore. If the project is approved, then the electricity department will shift the electricity poles immediately. In that case, there is no need for PWD to pay shifting charges to the electricity department,” said Kumar.
When contacted, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte said the State government has plans to lay an underground 11 KV cable from the power sub station to the legislative complex.
“The electricity department had invited tenders for this work and one party has applied for the project. The electricity dept has moved the file to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for his approval and once it is approved and tender is issued, the electricity poles will be removed,” added Khaunte.
