Delay in erecting speed breaker irks residents, block road in Margao

Delay in erecting speed breaker irks residents, block road in Margao
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, DEC 8
Vehicular traffic on the busy Eastern bypass came to a complete halt on Wednesday morning after agitated residents of Housing Board, Rumdamol-Davorlim resorted to rasta roko to protest against the delay in erecting speed breakers  near the Maruti  Temple junction..
The protestors blocked the road with blazing tyres and stones, even as traffic came to a complete halt for over an hour. It was only after the Salcete Joint Mamlatdar, John Fernandes and the police gave an assurance to erect the speed breakers within seven days that the residents lifted the rasta roko.
The law enforcing agencies were taken off guard when the agitated residents assembled at the road junction and erected barricades with stones. They later set afire to rubber tyres and placed them on the road, brining all traffic on the Eastern bypass to a complete halt.
Rumdamol panch member Ulhas Tuemkar said the panchayat had been running from pillar to post since the last several months demanding speed breakers near the Maruti temple junctions.
He said the road junction has become an accident prone zone in the absence of the speed breakers and gave details of the correspondence the Panchayat made with the district Collector and other agencies pleading for the speed breakers.
“The Panchayat had submitted the proposals for speed breakers months ago. The reminder was sent again on July and November, but in vain. On the other hand, the people are blaming the Panchayat body for the ignoring the genuine demand”, he said, adding that the rasta roko was resorted to drew attention of the authorities to plight of the villagers.
Rumdamol Deputy Sarpanch Damu Naik said around 10,000 people, including school students face the risk of accidents as they cross the Eastern bypass every day from the housing board area.
Joint Mamlatdar, John Fernandes said the formalities towards the erection of the speed breakers on the Bypass near the Maruit Temple stand almost complete, adding that the speed breakers would take shape on the road within the next seven days.