Santosh Naik
santosh@herald-goa.com
PONDA: Mangueshi Junction located at a tourist spot has become a death trap for vehicle riders. The confusion at the junction has caused fatal accidents and locals have demand safety measures and this stretch.
The two parallel roads running at Mangueshi on Ponda-Panjim NH Junction are one way road for traffic proceeding from Ponda to Panjim and vice-versa. However, this junction has proved to be a death trap for vehicles that are coming from Panjim and crossing the junction to proceed towards Mangueshi. Several lives have been lost due to accidents at the Panjim- Mangueshi route due to the confusion prevailing in absence of proper road safety measures and speed breakers. Being a National Highway, vehicles often speed up over the rumbler strips without reducing the speed and crash into other vehicles. Locals have been demanding safety measures for the past many years and even resolutions have been passed but the situation has remained the same.
Last week, locals witnessed one local youth Arun Priolkar (28) losing his life when he was hit by a taxi at Mangueshi Junction due to confusion prevailing at this point. He was shifted to Ponda sub-district hospital and then lifted to GMC in a critical condition but breathed his last after few days of treatment.
Mangueshi is one of famous world tourist destinations and thousands of devotees and tourists visit the majestic Mangueshi Temple to seek the blessings of Goa Manguesh. This junction is dangerous and so far several fatal accidents have occurred. The road towards Mangueshi Temple is located 200 metres away from this junction. The confusion often prevails here between vehicles coming from Panjim crossing the Junction to reach towards Mangueshi and vehicles proceeding to Mangueshi going straight towards Panjim.
Sources say that politicians can do U-turns on their promises without looking on any side but motorists taking this right/U-turn should be very careful to observe vehicles coming on the other side.
Another Mangueshi resident said that the non-Goan tourist visiting Mangueshi Temple get confused and get involved into frequent accidents at this junction.
A few years ago one youth died when his motorcycle hit a bus while crossing the junction. Several bus passengers were injured. Most of them were workers from Kundaim Industrial Estate returning home after finishing their shift.
Locals have been demanding proper speed breakers instead of rumblers at this junction as vehicles are often seen going on a high speed since it is a National Highway. There is also no proper lighting during night. The locals have demanded to appoint a traffic police so that the threat to lives is reduced.
Local MLA and Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude who happened to reach at the spot during the recent accident involving the youth and the taxi told Herald that this is dangerous junction. He has called a meeting of PWD Officials. “There is a need of a traffic island or a circle,” said Gaude.
He told Herald that he is also exploring the probability of constructing an over bridge at this junction which can be possible considering the slope of road. He said he will soon find a solution to this problem.
