PONDA: The recent accident on the Bethora – Borim bypass, claiming the life of a bike rider and leaving the pillion critically injured, has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about public road safety in Ponda.
This marks the fourth horrific accident between a car and a bike on this stretch. Additionally, the presence of truck parking along the stretch, combined with sharp turns, has turned the area into a death trap, rue locals.
Speaking to O Heraldo, activist Sandeep Parkar demanded the immediate appointment of two traffic police personnel at the work-in-progress site to regulate traffic and ensure the safety of commuters. He highlighted the lack of streetlights along the Bethora – Borim road, putting road-users at risk during nighttime. Despite ongoing road widening work, there have been no safety precautions or diversion boards installed by the contractor, say locals.
Social worker Viraj Sapre echoed these sentiments, describing the Bethora – Borim Bypass as a death trap since the road widening began several years ago. He blamed the contractor and the government for negligence towards road safety, emphasising the absence of essential safety signage and measures along the stretch. Sapre called for the installation of CCTV cameras and speed limit boards to deter speeding vehicles. “The traffic police are often focused on collecting fines rather than regulating traffic at the road widening site,” he lamented.
Prajyoth Gaonkar, another Ponda local, pointed out the risk posed by sharp bends along the road. “The road, built by landfilling, has already washed away at some places as the retaining wall built is far below the road level,” said Gaonkar. He warned of potential collapses during the rainy season if the retaining walls are not raised to road level at the widening site.
Meanwhile, South Goa DYSP for traffic Prabodh Shirvoikar urged commuters to adhere to speed limit sign boards and traffic rules to minimise accidents and save lives. He assured that the traffic department is continuously conducting awareness campaigns and taking measures for road improvement and safety after accidents occur.
