Team Herald
CANACONA: The demand for rain shelters on the Highway from Canacona to Margao is increasing and the call is in keeping pace with the heavy rainfall on this route, as it is hilly and forested area.
Commuters are demanding that authorities set up structures to provide shelter at every 5 km for them to take shelter from rain and save them from getting wet.
Most of the commuters, who travel on two-wheelers on this route, sharing their experience, said that the over 40 kms ride taking about one hour is through isolated areas and they have to run under a tree to seek shelter when it rains.
These shelters are required for the two-wheeler commuters to stop and wear rain gear.
Although there are bus shelters on the route, they are too far from each other.
Echoing his concern that the only relief provided on the roads came from the bus shelters and rail bridges, Pradeep Mokhardakar, who commutes from his house in Talpona to Margao frequently, said, “There are no shelters of any sort from Char Rasta to Balli beside the NH66 road, and it is a common to see commuters running for shelter to private homes, bus shelters, under the railway bridges or under trees to escape from getting wet.”
“Rain shelters can be also doubled up as wash rooms which will eliminate open defecation taking place by the natural water bodies on this route,” Mokhardakar suggested.
