PONDA: Residents of Ponda express growing concern as fatal accidents continue to plague the taluka.
Despite the government collecting fines for violations, there seems to be little control over accidents, with statistics revealing 24 fatalities on Ponda’s roads in the past eleven months.
The Mardol Police Station reported seven fatalities, while Ponda Police Station recorded 17 fatal accidents. The memory of the Bansatari horrific car accident, claiming three lives on two bikes traveling in opposite directions, still haunts the locals. Additionally, a bus accident in Dharbandora resulted in the death of the driver after the bus plunged into a nullah.
Local residents are urging the government to adopt more safety measures on the roads. Traffic department sources state that they have identified several black spots, including Dharbandora, Bhoma and Banastarim. Proposed measures include road improvement and widening, addressing sharp turns, installing speed breakers, and enhancing signages.
One recent incident at Kundaim Manaswada junction saw a truck falling onto a shop, claiming one life. Frequent accidents prompted locals to stage a rasta roko agitation, compelling the government to initiate road widening work on NH at Kundaim. Ponda Police Inspector Tushar Lotlikar emphasized the need for young bike riders to avoid speeding, urging them to prioritise not only their safety but also that of other road users. He emphasized the importance of following traffic rules to prevent accidents.
Voicing concerns, activist Viraj Sapre in Ponda suggested that instead of issuing challans, the traffic department should focus on checking speeding vehicles. Sapre advocated for proper counseling of vehicle drivers before issuing driving licenses and emphasised the necessity of coordination between PWD and the Traffic Department. He highlighted specific areas like Kala Mandir road in Ponda, lacking proper signboards or road dividers, contributing to accidents.
