PERNEM: Irresponsible behaviour on part of the highway authorities has turned the NH-66 right from Patradevi to Dhargal into a death trap.
The sub-standard works of the highway and continuous movement of heavy vehicles due the ongoing work of National Highway has made it difficult especially for the motorists to commute.
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Due to the ongoing expansion work, everyday the road is diverted at several points from Patradevi to Dhargal and in absence of sign boards, barricades, it becomes difficult for the driver, rider to understand the diversions. Due to the gross negligence of the authorities more than 30 lives have been lost as a result of accidents since the work commenced in 2018.
Around 51 accidents occurred on the Patradevi to Dhargal road stretch in which 70 people sustained major injuries while 9 people succumbed in 2018, the year the expansion works commenced. In 2019, 52 accidents occurred, wherein 41 people were injured and 8 people died. In the year 2020, 4 people died and in 2021 the number of fatal accident was 5 and the number of fatal accidents this year till date is 5. Most of the people who were severely injured are still recovering.
“Due to the insensitive attitude of the highway authorities, several families lost have their loved ones. The recent accident that occurred at Torxem is complete fault of highway authorities. This particular portion of road is lying incomplete and is dead end and absence of barricades resulted in accident,” a local S Naik alleged.
Another local Ashish Gad said, “The contractor has not made provision of service roads at several locations. There are no proper diversion boards, barricades or traffic signal to control the traffic movement. Several spots are left as dead end which confuses the commuters. The concern authority needs to look into this and take necessary measures to avoid such fatal accidents.”
Bharat Bagkar president of Pernem Taluka Nagarik Samiti said, “This accident at Torxem is the culmination of the negligence of the MVR Company. Work of this particular road stretch is pending since several months and regularly at least one accident is witnessed.”
Several representations have been submitted to Pernem Dy Collector, Mamlatdar as well as Pernem Police Inspector with a demand to file criminal cases against the highway contractor for its failure to take precautionary measures. However, no strict action has been taken till date.
Though people have agitated and blocked the highway several times, the authorities and the contractor have continued with the substandard work.
