27 Mar 2023  |   06:00am IST

HAS THE ADMINISTRATION BUDGETED FOR THE TRAFFIC LOGJAM AS THE BUDGET STARTS IN PORVORIM?

The Assembly session will begin at 11.30 am and the heavy flow of vehicles is likely to continue on Porvorim-Panjim route at the same time each day; traffic from Porvorim will still be diverted through the old Mandovi bridges

Team Herald

PANJIM: The government may have opened one of the lanes of Atal Setu for vehicular traffic from Merces to Porvorim to ease congestion, but traffic snarls during peak hours are expected on Monday as the volume of vehicles is likely to increase along the Porvorim-Panjim route in view of the budget session of the State Assembly.

Traffic proceeding from Porvorim towards Panjim will continue to be diverted through the old and new Mandovi bridges as the resurfacing works on the particular lane (lane of Atal Setu from Porvorim towards Panjim) of the Atal Setu is still being carried out.

On Monday, the Assembly session will begin at 11.30 am and the heavy flow of traffic is likely to continue on Porvorim-Panjim route at the same time each day.

Massive volume of vehicles is witnessed on the said route during peak hours.

“With the opening of one lane of Atal Setu for vehicular traffic from the Merces towards Porvorim, and also the Ponda-Panjim arm of Atal Setu, we (traffic police) expect the traffic situation in Panjim and Porvorim to improve significantly on Monday,” Panjim Traffic PI Chetan Saulekar said.

At present all light motor vehicles proceeding from Ponda are permitted to enter the capital city on a permanent basis from the Panjim arm. However, on a temporary basis, the police are also allowing two-wheelers to enter the capital city from the Panjim arm.

“We are going to deploy adequate staff on the entire stretch and hope that traffic will be streamlined on Monday,” Saulekar added.

North Goa Collector Mamu Hage has imposed Section 144 of CrPC from Monday morning onwards which prohibits the gathering of five or more persons or organising processions within 500 metre radius of State Assembly complex and the area under the jurisdiction of Panjim Police Station.

The Collector has restricted movement of heavy vehicles and multi-axle vehicles coming from Sawantwadi side towards Panjim side on NH-66 and from Banastarim side towards Panjim side from 7 am to 8 pm till repair work of Atal Setu is complete.