Team Herald
PONDA: The seven-kilometre four-lane Khandepar-Ponda highway is ready for inauguration; however, the locals are opposed to opening the road without putting in safety measures at the KTC junction opposite the Safa Masjid.
The locals argue that if the highway is inaugurated without putting in the safety measures, their lives would be at risk while crossing the highway junction to reach the KTC bus stand.
According to the national highway officials, neither an underpass nor a flyover could be constructed at KTC junction as it is located in front of Safa Masjid, which is a heritage site and a protected monument.
As there would be no junction at that spot, locals as well as buses on Ponda-Panjim road will have to travel one km extra to reach the KTC bus stand. However, the locals of Bandora are not ready to travel the extra kilometre.
Therefore, to protest against the authorities for not putting in safety measures at the KTC junction, the Bandora villagers have decided to come on the road on Sunday to press for their demands.
Officials say that an underpass could be constructed at Bandora junction, but that would take two years. In that case, the locals suggest that the opening of four-lane road should be delayed till alternative solution is found.
When contacted, PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar said he did not know what the demand of the locals is. “It would be known to me only when they put them before me. The PWD officials will be meeting on Monday as the Highway would be opened soon. We will discuss the issues concerning the locals, stakeholders and taking into confidence all of them a solution will be found,” the minister said.
