Team Herald
PONDA: As the Navaratri festival draws thousands of worshippers to the Dhavalim Bhagawati Temple, devotees have urged the authorities to take immediate action to regulate traffic at the busy Dhavalim junction along the national highway.
With foot traffic surging, particularly at night, residents are raising concerns about the safety of pedestrians crossing the junction, where speeding vehicles have become a serious threat.
The junction, located on the Dhavalim-Farmagudi bypass along the Panjim-Ponda-Margao highway, has long been known for its heavy traffic. Worshippers crossing this bustling area, especially during the festival period, face considerable risks. In past years, fatal accidents have been reported at this very spot, further heightening fears of potential danger during the nine-day event.
Local residents and devotees are calling for traffic police to be deployed immediately to manage the flow of vehicles and prevent accidents. Many feel that stricter safety measures are long overdue, pointing to past incidents as a clear indicator of the urgent need for traffic regulation at the junction.
With the festival set to conclude on October 12, locals are intensifying their pleas for quick action to ensure the safety of the thousands of devotees who continue to visit the temple daily. Without proper traffic control, they fear the risk of accidents will remain dangerously high as the festival reaches its peak.