Team Herald
Ponda: The Bandora, Ponda locals have demanded the authorities straighten the most acute sharp turn near Venkeshlila hotel which was constructed on the recently upgraded Dhavlim- Farmagudi by pass highway. The Dhavlim –Farmagudi road in the past has remained accident prone zone due to several sharp turns but even after its widening into a four lane, the situation has not changed with the most dangerous turn at Venkteshlila hotel only becoming more dangerous and accident prone, says the locals of Ponda. They demanded the road be straightened and this issue was also discussed at the gramsabha of Bandora.
The locals allege the government wasted crores of rupees for the four-lane widening from the existing two lane but failed to clear the several dangerous sharp turns along DhavlimFarmagudi bypass which are still existing even after widening.
The sharp turn at the Venkteshlila Hotel is almost at 90 degree angle on the slope coming from Farmagudi. When the speeding vehicles on Farmagudi proceed on this sharp turn it can result in dangerous accidents and trucks falling off the road. As the highway work is incomplete the government have not allowed traffic on it. They fear accidents will occur when traffic flows again. According to locals Surel Naik, Dinesh Naik and Dilip Naik, these sharp turns might be to protect the interest of some people who owned land and also have their shops on the roadside. This could cost drivers of heavy vehicles dearly since they could lose control. Earlier at the same spot many trucks and tankers have gone off the road. Locals recall the incident involving a tanker carrying aviation fuel losing control on the sharp turn and almost being gutted while other trucks were badly damaged. Surel Naik said nowhere such sharp turns of 90degree exists on steep slope
