The entire idea behind shifting the Holy Spirit fair to the open grounds at SGPDA was to avoid traffic congestion problems that come with the fair. However, the ongoing digging work on several key roads of Margao has thrown traffic out of gear and not only has this led to vehicles moving at a snail’s pace, it has caused huge traffic jams all over the commercial capital of Goa.
Traffic police and the district administration have come under severe criticism for failing to ensure that there was an adequate traffic plan to help commuters adjust to the situation. Traffic police have countered stating that they have been busy with managing the fair and traffic around the KTC and Holy Spirit circle and do not have enough staff to man all the roads. A meeting organised at the deputy collector’s office for better coordination and to collect information on which road is being dug by which department was a dud as none of the departments from BSNL, PWD, Electricity or the contractors for the JICA work submitted plans.
“If you are coming towards Margao and you take the left from Ana Fonte Garden, the road behind Grace Church is virtually blocked as digging work has started in two places right in the middle of the road. While there was work going on earlier, right now it is very difficult for two vehicles to pass through. Buses also use this road extensively,” said Anand D’silva whose office is located on VV road.
Local residents have said that traffic police should have been stationed here and they should have allowed only one way traffic. “Better traffic management with proper signboards could have solved this. Another example is at Aquem where this is a big hole in the road for the laying of 4G cables and no barricade whatsoever. At night this could lead to a bad accident,” he said.
While the VV road has its share of road digging problems, Isidore Baptista road that proceeds towards Aquem is in worse condition. “They have blocked off the road connecting you to the old tempo stand. This road has been dug up and it has not been restored to its proper condition. It consists of bad mud patchwork and this leads to accidents,” said Michael Dias, a resident of the area.
Bad mud patch work seems to be the order of the day as the same can be seen opposite the main road near the comunidade building and municipal garden or from Fatima convent school towards Comba junction.
Another major issue is how the digging of roads has disrupted BSNL cables and water supply in Aquem where such digging work is still underway. Aquem residents have complained that repeated calls to the PWD department have not been attended to and that this is a major problem given that that it’s December and is the festive season.
“We were sitting at a restaurant and suddenly we heard a loud commotion outside. When we went, we saw that the road had been dug. Our vehicles and those of the other guests were stuck. This was on a Sunday and after the restaurant manager spoke to the contractor, he was told that laying of the pipe for that portion would be done in one or two hours but this went on for half a day and we had to return in the evening to take our vehicles,” said Sagar Kamat, a businessman.
The worst affected are the parents of school children and office crowd as traffic hurdles and bad roads have forced them to reach their destinations late. While thousands of people attended the Holy Spirit church feast, they faced a lot of problems getting in and out of the area in Margao.
