After enduring severe traffic congestion for over a decade, the residents of Borim village—among the most traffic-choked areas in the region—are set to receive long-awaited relief. The Public Works Department (PWD) has initiated a road-widening project that will expand a one-kilometre stretch from Bythokhol Circle to Pedakade Sakhwar by six metres. The work is scheduled to be completed before the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
Traffic congestion has become a daily ordeal for villagers, with the narrow 2.5-kilometre stretch of the national highway cutting through Borim witnessing gridlock throughout the day. The problem is particularly severe during peak hours in the morning and evening, when serpentine queues of vehicles build up in both directions.
Due to the continuous traffic flow, the village often feels divided into two parts, with commuters struggling to cross from one side to the other. The road serves as a major route for vehicles heading from Ponda and Belgaum in one direction, and from Karwar, Margao, Sanguem, Shiroda and Savordem on the other.
Not only do heavy trucks and passenger buses contribute to the congestion, but so do industrial workers, interstate travellers, schoolchildren, and local residents. Even minor road mishaps or vehicle breakdowns cause major disruptions, compounding the misery for commuters and villagers alike.
Adding to the traffic woes is the presence of the famous Sai Baba Temple located at the heart of Borim. During religious festivals and celebrations, large numbers of devotees arrive by vehicle, leading to jams that stretch from Bythokhol to the Borim Bridge.
“PWD has decided to widen a one-kilometre stretch of the road from Bythokhol Circle to Pedakade Sakhwar by six metres. This will help to reduce traffic congestion to a great extent,” said Borim Sarpanch Jayesh Naik.
Villagers have long been pleading for a solution, and with this step by the PWD, there is finally a glimmer of hope that smoother traffic flow and better connectivity are on the horizon.