Team Herald
PONDA: Villagers of Kerya Khandepar have expressed frustration to South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes, pointing out that while the newly constructed four-lane highway offers a smooth commute for drivers, it has left them struggling to cross the road safely, due to the lack of underpasses.
During a meeting with Fernandes, along with Congress leader Rajesh Verenkar and locals Rocky Dias and Sandeep Parkar, residents shared their grievances. They stated that the highway has effectively divided the village in two, making it perilous to cross between the two sides. The absence of an underpass has posed a serious risk to villagers, who fear that the road could become a "death trap" without urgent intervention.
The highway, which snakes through Kerya, has left locals struggling to reach essential locations like schools, shops, temples, and chapels. Despite initial requests for an underpass at Kerya, residents say their demands were ignored. Although a two-way service road was constructed, residents claim it has not eased their difficulties.
Some villagers also find it difficult to access their cashew plantations due to steep hill cuts. One resident reported that debris and mud from the highway construction have polluted her agricultural field.
Pointing to disparities, residents noted that while a nearby one-km stretch in Curti has four underpasses, none have been constructed within the same distance in Kerya, despite repeated requests.
Captain Fernandes assured the villagers he would facilitate a meeting with National Highway (NH) officials to discuss solutions, including the feasibility of an underpass or overbridge. “While Kerya Khandepar is particularly impacted, similar concerns are arising along other highways, including the Canacona-Margao Highway, the Margao-Nuvem Bypass, and the Borim-Bethora stretch. The government needs to invest more to address these local concerns,” Fernandes said, adding that better planning and public consultation are essential in such highway projects. He plans to meet NH officials on Tuesday at 3 PM, along with panchayat representatives, to address the villagers’ issues.