VASCO: Despite a ‘No Entry’ notification issued by South Goa Collector Swapnil Naik, commercial vehicles as well as taxis continues to ply on an internal road connecting NH17-B to NH17-A (road used as shortcut). Irked by this, residents from Dabolim as well as from Zuarinagar have demanded the speedy implementation of the notification issued to prevent any accidents taking place on this internal road.
It may be recalled that on June 8 2017, collector South Goa issued the ‘No Entry’ notification banning transport vehicles including taxis from using the shortcut road connecting NH17-B to NH17-A(at Alto Dabolim, near Vales Junction) from St Jacinto Island. In the order a direction was also issued to PWD Executive Engineer (WD VI)(Roads) to take necessary steps to erect signboards for guidance and information of the motorists and submit a compliance report.
After the order was issued, locals thought that they would get relief from the excessive movement of taxis leading to and from Dabolim airport and other transport vehicles. This zig zag road had become an accident prone zone. However even after two weeks, PWD authorities are yet to erect signage near the entrance of the internal road and local traffic police will not take up enforcement until signage’s are in place.
“It is quite surprising that despite an official ban, commercial vehicles and specially the taxis continue to use this internal road to proceed towards Dabolim airport. This shows how the concerned PWD department functions at a slow pace otherwise it should not take so much time to erect signage. In the absence of signages there is no control on the speeding taxis which increase the possibility of accidents. We therefore demand the PWD authorities speed up and provide signages before any major accident take place on this road which has become a death trap,” said Dabolim based social activists Preetam Keluskar.
