SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Team Herald
PONDA: Finally, as assured to Kundaim locals, the NH authorities began road widening work on Kundaim bypass.
Kundaim locals had launched an agitation on May 1, by blocking the NH traffic passing on the one way from Kundaim Manaswada. They were demanding that the traffic be diverted two-way through the Kundaim bypass.
The agitation on May 1 followed a horrific accident on April 31, wherein a container truck overturned at Manaswada Junction after damaging two cars and four bike and several people who were at spot were injured. The situation at Kundaim was tense after the accident and villagers feared that if accidents continue on Manaswada road it would claim the lives of villagers.
Following the agitation the NH officials, Ponda Mamlatdar held discussions with locals including Kundaim Sarpanch and had urged them to clear road blockades. The NH officials had assured locals to give some time to widen the narrow Kundaim bypass to make it two way.
They had assured to widen the Kundaim bypass by May 2, deadline and this work began from Wednesday.
Kundaim Sarpanch Survesh Gaude welcomed the starting of the work and said for the safety of locals it was essential. He along with locals said officials should expedite work and divert heavy traffic from the bypass so that Manaswada road could be used as service road for people and provide safety to villagers.
It may recalled that since the last decade, locals want Manaswada one way road on NH to be used as aservice road for their safety due to several accidents which occurred in the past including many fatal accidents. The Manaswada road is sloping and connects main junction on NH at the village. There are speed breakers too on the slope on which vehicles sometimes lose control thus leading to accidents.
In another recent horrific accident in February 2023 a truck rammed into a shop at Manaswada junction and one person in shop was killed while several were injured.
Since then and on earlier occasions, locals had urged the Government to divert heavy traffic via the bypass. However, there was no response from the government. But when another horrific accident was reported in April 30, the locals blocked the Manaswada road to prevent accidents, thus forcing authorities to act.
