TEAM HERALD
BELGAUM: Goan commuters’ journey to Belgaum is expected to become more comfortable, as the perilous three-km stretch between Peeranwadi and 3rd Railway gate along the Belgaum-Goa NH4A is likely to be widened soon.
There has been a demand for more than two years to widen this stretch due to traffic jams and a rise in the number of fatal accidents along the stretch.
A large number of people comprising industrialists, professionals, students and women on Saturday took out a rally to the office of the deputy commissioner and demanded immediate action in this regard. The memorandum submitted stated that authorities need to take up the work within the next fortnight as apart from local traffic, Goans visiting Belgaum are facing difficulty in negotiating the treacherous traffic situation throughout the day.
According to Belgaum South MLA Sambhaji Patil, though Rs 10 crore has been set aside, unwarranted lethargy observed by the NHAI has put citizens and commuters to inconvenience.
While the administration has agreed to take up the matter on priority, MLA Patil has also assured the protesting people to take up widening of the stretch as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Belgaum Chambers of Commerce and Industries (BCCI) along with other associations gave an ultimatum to the Deputy Commissioner to widen the road from 3rd gate to Peeranwadi. “If no work is commenced within 15 days, the association members will block the Belgaum-Goa highway with the help of citizens from Mazagaon, Udyambag, Macche and Peeranwadi,” the BCCI has warned authorities.
“All these years, authorities have been giving only false assurances, in case they fail to take up the work immediately, we will be taking them to task,” stated BCCI President Rajendra Harkuni.
