The Central government’s Ujwala Yojana seems to have faded considering the darkness one encounters on the Nuvem-Arlem link road, as the maintenance and illumination of this major road has been crying for attention for the past eight years.
In fact, all that’s witnessed for eight long years is the tarring of the road and painting of lines on the bypass. Ironically, for such a busy stretch there’s not a single lamp or any illumination of any sort installed.
People travelling home from north Goa to Fatorda and suburban Margao have to take this route. And since the bypass also links South Goa to North, this route is also taken by several heavy vehicles, making driving on this road all the more dangerous.
The dangerously deserted Arlem Bypass haunts vehicles as there has not been a single street light on the stretch ever since its construction. A regular traveller of this route informs that he has seen series of accidents that have taken place on these roads.
What’s more, without lights or illumination of any sort, criminal activities too is on the rise on this bypass road. Some research over the delay and its reason took us to the PWD office which informed that the PWD is not the authority to undertake and execute the works of illumination. It was also informed that only some special exclusive projects like bridges are taken up for illumination by PWD.
That took us to the Electricity Division of the PWD which informed that they do not take up these works suo moto but only against proposals from the local MLA’s or similar requests. The division told that the Electricity Department handles street lighting.
When we questioned the local Assistant Engineer he revealed that part of the road is essentially in Nuvem and only a part of it is in Fatorda. He also informed that there is a government policy to be finalised shortly where in the National Highway division becomes the authority responsible for illumination.
“There was no clarity on who does the work of illumination of the road and that took up several years,” Assistant Engineer of PWD Electricity Division Rajendra Sawant said.
People have urged that as responsible elected representatives, the concerned MLAs of each constituency would have to immediately act on this issue as this can further lead to risk of life for citizens driving on this bypass road.
Another highlighting factor is the Nuvem-Arlem link road has become a debris dumping site, with new heaps appearing almost every week. Uncontrolled dumping of construction, party waste besides garbage not only is becoming an environmental issue, but also dangerous for oncoming vehicles, especially on turns.
This becomes a death trap for two-wheelers vehicles travelling after dark given the fact that there is no road illumination.
Also, it has become the truckers’ favourite parking spot, as one can see trucks parked specially at both its end points – near Raje Motors in Nuvem and opposite Pepsi factory in Arlem, Fatorda.
Local vegetable vendors sitting close to the edge of the road and vehicles parking haphazardly to make purchases is another cause of concern.
It may be recalled that a middle-aged two-wheeler rider died after hitting a rock from the construction dump on the side of the road.
