The motor underpass (subway), built at the cost of Rs 8.65 crore opposite to GMC Bambolim, appears to be a waste of public funds with no proper planning by construction agency, the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC). The said project was proposed in 2013 ahead of Lusofonia games. After missing several deadlines the project was thrown open for the public at the beginning of this year.
The speeding vehicles from Panjim to Margao and vice versa are still not finding it comfortable to use the underpass as pedestrians, GMC visitors and children are still confused how to use this underpass.
There are no signages installed at the entry and exit of this underpass which creates a major confusion for a driver who comes from Panjim or goes to Margao on this stretch at Bambolim. There are two entries and two exits to this underpass.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Dharmesh Angle has said that the traffic cell has written to the PWD at least 10 times to install the sign boards and improve the road connecting the under pass but till now nothing has come up.
The majority of the people, who are presently using this underpass, are the parents who come to drop their kids to the school complex.
The subway was conceptualised to facilitate the people visiting GMC and to ease the traffic at the junction. However, a Herald survey has revealed that the subway creates confusion and the tax payers’ money has been misused again.
Principal Chief Engineer of the PWD Uttam Parsekar has said that the work of traffic circulation and installation of signages to direct traffic into the subway is in progress and it will be done very shortly.
The buses, ambulances and traffic cranes cannot pass from this subway, informed DySP Dharmesh Angle. He said that the width of the subway is not enough to cater to traffic both ways and there is a major conflict at two places in the subway.
Shailendra Fadte, one of the parents who visits Cujira school complex daily, has said that there have been major traffic issues and jams in the subway at the peak hours in the morning and even in the afternoon time.
Due to the approach road which is not properly built by the concerned agency the visitors face lot of inconvenience. The purpose of such a huge project, which has built spending crores of rupees using public taxpayers money, is not been fully utilised for the purpose which it has made.
