According to locals, the narrow road, which branches out from the four-lane National Highway (NH) 17 B at Vales Junction and then connects to the NH 17 A near St Jacinto Island, is used by hundreds of airport taxi operators and other motorists daily. They further said that the road was even connected to MES College and other residential colonies at Zuarinagar, but the authorities still never paid any attention to the illegal signboards and hoardings mushrooming beside the road, and that too, on a blind curve (road leading to MES College). They added that the road has become a deathtrap for motorists.
“This shortcut road is narrow and has numerous curves, which regularly leads to accidents. However, the major threat to all motorists is the signboards and hoardings. Last week, three people met with accidents, but luckily there was no casualty,” said Dominic Almeida, a resident of Alto-Dabolim.
Sainath Amonkar, a taxi driver operating at Dabolim airport said, “It is true that the road has numerous curves and an intersection in between. However, the biggest worry is at the intersection of the road leading to MES College as there are three curves back to back, and with signboards obstructing the view of motorists, the chances of accidents also increases.”
When contacted, acting Sarpanch of Chicalim Kamlaprasad Yadav also raised serious concerns over the illegal signboards. He said, “It is true that the signboards have been posing a threat to commuters. I have no idea why the people ruling the panchayat failed to take action against the illegal signboards or hoardings. Also, the panchayat has not given permission to put up signboards and hoardings on that road, and thus, I will see to it that the same are removed within a week.”
