Team Herald
PONDA: Ponda locals criticised the State government for collecting fines but not improving the potholed-ridden roads in town.
They said, “With pre-monsoon showers almost starting, it has become dangerous to drive through the potholed-ridden roads in various parts of Ponda. Further, to add to the woes, the roads are also becoming slippery and dangerous as the ongoing sewage work on chambers is not stopped despite raining.”
With only few roads hot-mixed, the commuters still face hardship.
The locals said, “Tender for hot-mixing carpeting of Ponda market road was issued in 2020 but the contractor despite getting work order kept the work pending as a result the people are suffering for two years while riding/driving on this worst condition road. But there is no action taken against the contractor nor the government issued fresh tender for hot-mix carpeting of market road.”
A local Vishal Fadte criticised the Traffic Cell Department saying that it is only after revenue generation by issuing challans in town instead of focusing on traffic problems and repairing potholed-ridden roads, providing parking spaces etc.
“Ponda roads every year report maximum fatal accidents in State with average of more than three fatal accidents every month but there is no much improvement in the road condition including alignment of sharp curves, installing safety railings at dangerous spots,” he said.
Further, Vishal added, “There are more accidents taking place on highway and less or zero accidents in town. So, the Traffic Police should focus on highway, speeding vehicles and improving accident prone roads, curves which claim lives. However, they are more seen busy in issuing challans in town as if the vehicle riders are offenders.”
He said, “Recently one tempo driver died in an accident at Bythokhol, Borim after he lost control of the vehicle and fell into roadside valley as there were no safety railings in place at Bythokhol circle. Traffic Police should inspect the accident prone zones and bring in safety measures.”
“Traffic Police are ignoring the speeding vehicles on highway. The highway remains unmanned while Traffic Police are seen busy in town issuing challans instead of controlling traffic. In case of town, there are less accidents and Traffic Police are needed more on the highway to prevent the vehicles from speeding and fatal accidents,” he claimed.
