PANJIM: For those travelling from the south to the north and vice versa on NH -17, it took them hours to cover a mere 30 odd kilometers.
Due to inefficient and bad planning by the traffic police and the ongoing construction work for the Zuari Bridge, traffic snarls were the order of the day on Saturday. Similarly work on the new Mandovi Bridge had led to traffic jams on the Porvorim main road as well.
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There were traffic jams right from the morning and it only worsened throughout the day so much so that by evening the traffic had literally come to a standstill.
“It took me three hours, ten minutes to get to Verna from Panjim. Never mind the Nuvem jam,” said Fernando Monte Da Silva
There were many others like Fernando who were stuck in traffic and frustrated at the snail pace at which vehicles were moving.
In the evening, the central Cortalim junction was so badly affected that it caused a traffic jam from all sides – those who were coming from or heading towards Vasco, Margao and Panjim.
There is bad road development, no proper diversion, no proper lighting, no proper sign boards. Who will check all this, “said Henry Pinto reacting to @oheraldo’s official Facebook page.
“I am stuck and have not yet reached Coratlim circle from Shantadurga temple at Sancoale. It has been thirty minutes and counting and this usually takes me just five minutes walking to cover this distance, “said Klein Colaco on Facebook
You should have made alternative arrangements to divert traffic before starting on the bridges. Yes charge all cars from out of state coming into Goa as a whole especially Lorries, “added Viola Waite on Facebook.
Due to the construction work and diversions on the road right from Verna to Bambolim, traffic was further hit. Moreover, the queues to Old Goa for the novenas also took a tall on the narrow loads and with the police unable to keep an effective check, vehicles and two wheelers were stacked like a pack of cards.
With the serpentine queues showing no sign of easing up, the people of Goa Velha helped with traffic navigation to offer some relief to frustrated commuters on that route.
“I have been stuck near pillar since the last 30 minutes with no movement in traffic. No police nearby and it is the locals of pillar who are helping to ease the traffic and get things moving. The traffic police only know how to levy fines and penalties” said Sarvesh Satardekar on Facebook.
“I am stuck at pillar road. We Goans lack traffic discipline (cutting lanes)that is adding 30 % more effect, No traffic police at critical places specially branch roads. Infrastructure cannot be changed but proper organising would have reduced the traffic effect,” was another comment on Facebook.
“Think about people who want to catch the flight at Dabolim airport. It’s very sad to see traffic police functioning failing. In fact, some police are only getting angry near pillar junction and making public panic. This is poor management by the police. If this is the state of affairs, imagine how bad the situation will be in December, “ added Sarvesh.
“It’s worse in Margao city today. It was just horrible. The traffic police don’t even wish to help” added Avit Mascarenhas on Facebook, pointing out that the spill over had affected several parts of Goa besides the highway route.
