PONDA: Will the government install speed controlling measures before any fatality takes place at unsafe Kavlem-Khadpaband junction, which has become a death trap for commuters, is the question asked by the locals of Kavlem and Khadpaband.
The locals suggest the National Highways Authority of India should install rumbler strips at the junction to control the speed of vehicles on highway and to prevent fatal accidents.
According to the locals, the vehicles are moving at a high speed on Dhavlim-Farmagudi road while passing through Kavlem-Khadpaband junction. The commuters can’t notice the junction easily as it is located on a sharp turn thus posing a big risk.
Knowing the habit of government to adopt safety measures after fatalities take place, the locals questioned when the concerned department officials will take action.
The government had installed rumbler strips at Mangueshim junction few years back only after it claimed a life of one student pursuing medical education. Similarly, Kavlem-Khadpaband junction on the highway is dangerous therefore the locals demanded government’s attention to install rumbler strips and speed controlling measures to save lives before accidents take place.
Secondly, the Kavlem-Khadpaband junction is not even visible to speeding vehicles on highway, which is also a threat to locals’ lives. The Kavlem-Khadpaband junction on Dhavlim-Farmagudi slope is considered a death trap due to speeding vehicles even on the sharp turns without slowing the speed. So, there is a need of safety measures badly such as rumbler strips to slow down the speed of vehicles at this junction. There are orange light signals which blink but the vehicles are never seen lowering their speed.
Earlier, some five years back due to confusion, one tempo had crushed car driver at this junction who was crossing to proceed towards Kavlem. Besides this, several accidents have occurred. Recently, one Journalist who was crossing the junction was hit by a speeding car but luckily he escaped with minor injuries. Since this junction is used by hundreds of locals, they questioned whether the Traffic Cell is waiting for fatalities to adopt safety measures.
The Kavlem-Khadpaband junction is used by Kavlem and other surrounding areas people to proceed towards Ponda as a short cut route to schools, official work and market. Not only Kavlem but surrounding Bandora, Talavalim, Durbhat and Agapur villagers too use this junction as short cut route to Ponda.
