VASCO: The temporary opening of road median at Zuari gate on four-lane National Highway 17B has become a bone of contention between two BJP leaders from Mormugao taluka.
According to Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho by closing down the illegal opening at Vales junction and making a temporary opening near Zuari gate, he actually eliminated a death trap on road. However, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha feels that the new opening is a death trap created without her knowledge.
“Today we were happy because we have managed to obtain an NOC from the NHAI officials for traffic signals at MES College junction which would soon be a reality. However, I am equally disappointed to see a new death trap that has been created near Zuari gate. This cannot happen because this is National Highway. The roads on both sides of the new opening of median are not broad enough for traffic to take turns,” Saldanha told reporters after inspecting the site on Wednesday.
Expressing her indignation for not being consulted before opening the road medien at Zuari gate, Saldanha said, “This new opening in my constituency has been done without my knowledge. Since the time this new opening was made, two accidents have taken place at same site and thus NHAI has to close this new opening as it does not make any sense.”
On the other hand, Mauvin said, “As long as the people are happy that a big death trap has been eliminated and people are aware of it, I am not bothered about what others feel about it.”
Meanwhile, as directed by Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha, the NHAI officials on Thursday closed down temporary opening of road median near Zuari gate and now all the traffic that was earlier taking diversion through this new opening will take U-turn near MES college junction which according to some locals would be another disaster.
