PONDA: With monsoons fast approaching, the sudden closure of a road at Opa-Khandepar junction which has been dug for constructing a cross drain culvert has left the locals fuming with many terming the same as unplanned work.
Claiming that the work would take two months to complete, the residents demanded that the authorities complete work on a war footing to prevent commuters and pedestrians from undergoing hardship during monsoon.
The sudden road closure has left people confused which they fear could result in chaos and accidents at the spot.
They demanded the deployment of two traffic policemen at the spot ensure smooth flow of traffic on Highway and the internal roads.
Expressing his anger over sudden digging and road closure, Rocky Dias, a local, questioned the timing to carry out such works as monsoon are set to hit the State soon.
He said “This is unplanned work and commuters are suffering. Before digging the road the authorities should have constructed a service road, by clearing the mud and completing the approach road or bridge for the convenience of commuters, but this did not happen. More traffic policemen should be deployed at the junction and the work needs to be expedited as schools will reopen soon.”
He said that there is no pathway to cross the road at the junction.
Another resident Sandeep Parkar said, “Due to mud dumped the Opa-Khandepar junction has turned slippery following the recent downpour. The contractor has now dug up the road to start work of constructing a cross drain.”
NHAI official Anand Vagurmekar said, “To drain the water at Opa junction, a road has been dug to build a cross drain connecting the box culvert below the highway. The mud dump at Opa junction will be cleared before monsoon. The approach road to the bridge is ninety percent complete and all works will be completed before monsoon.”
