CANACONA: Commuters irked over the poor maintenance by the authorities of the national highway between Canacona and Margao are demanding to downgrade this road to a Major District Road (MDR) as they allege that the authorities have failed to widen it or to maintain it as per the NH specifications.
The National Highways are supposed to be lifelines of any country but most part of the NH66 starting from Canacona to Margao has become a death line as the authorities have neglected to widen or maintain it tune with the increase in movement of traffic on this route locals complain.
This road has witnessed manifold increase in movement of vehicles since last decade — most of which are heavy commercial vehicles.
Some stretches of this road between Gulem in Canacona and Cuncolim which is about 20 km is in dilapidated state as the washed away shoulders on both the sides of the road and sunken portions have not been repaired by the authorities for quite some time posing constant danger to the motorists.
“The wild vegetation on both the sides of the road has not been cleared on the ghat section of Karmalghat, this is causing lot of hindrance as the clear view in front gets blocked,” complained a regular commuter on this road.
Thousands of vehicles ply on this road as this road is an important link between North and South India on western side of the country. Road users feel that upgradating and widening of this road should be a priority to put a full stop to the frequent mishaps occurring on this road.
“PWD highways has to repair the shoulders, widen the road to remove blind curves, cut the wild growth on both sides of the road as well as put sufficient soling to make the sunken portions even and hot-mix the road as early as possible,” emphasised Satish Paiginkar, a social activist and former deputy sarpanch of Poiguinim panchayat.
