PONDA: Local residents in Bandora can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the National Highway authorities have commenced work on the long-awaited underpass near Nageshi Bandora junction on the Ponda-Panjim road.
The 7 km stretch from Khandepar to Safa Masjid junction was widened into a four-lane road six years ago, but the absence of an underpass at the KTC Bus Stand junction caused inconvenience to commuters. Vehicles traveling from the old bus stand to KTC Bus Stand Ponda had to take a detour of two extra kilometers via GVM Circle Farmagudi, leading to unnecessary delays.
Illegal U-turns at the Safa Masjid junction further exacerbated traffic hazards, posing risks of accidents for nearly six years. However, due to the proximity of the Safa Masjid historic site to the junction and lack of approval from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), construction of the underpass was delayed.
The initiation of the proposed underpass construction will bring relief to the residents of Bandora, as it will streamline traffic flow and provide a direct route for buses traveling from Ponda to the KTC bus stand.
Bandora locals heaved a sigh of relief as finally the much awaited work on construction of underpass at KTC Bus Stand near Nageshi Bandora junction on Ponda – Panjim road was started by National Highway authorities.
It may be recalled the 7 km stretch from Khandepar to Safa Masjid junction was widened into a four lane road and inaugurated six years ago. However at this time the junction here was closed making traffic on NH to proceed straight. There was no arrangement for an underpass at the junction. As a result the local vehicles and passenger buses moving from old bus stand to KTC Bus Stand Ponda were forced to travel two extra kms to take round about to GVM Circle Farmagudi to come at KTC Bus stand.
In order to avoid this distance many passenger buses and also local vehicles were taking an illegal U-turn (even as it was prohibited) on NH at Safa Masjid junction to proceed towards KTC bus stand posing risk of accidents. This continued for almost six years. The underpass could not constructed as Safa Masjid historic site was located close to Junction and there was no approval from ASI for underpass.
The proposed underpass has given relief to locals of Bandora. With the construction of the underpass the buses proceeding from Ponda will directly go through underpass at KTC bus Stand.
