Team Herald
VASCO: The overgrown bushes on the road dividers on the Varunapuri to Verna highway stretch are blocking the sight of commuters. Locals have urged the authorities to clear and trim it to avoid any accidents on the highway.
Premanand Dodamani, an officer of National Highways Authority, said the bush trimming work got delayed as the contract for the maintenance expired in August and process of signing a new contract is underway.
“Some of the trimming work has been started. In another 15 to 20 days time, the full-fledged work of maintenance will commence” Dodamani added.
Social worker Vinod Kinlekar from New Vaddem expressed concern about the safety of those commuters who travel at high speed on the highway.
“The driver who takes a turn on some junctions or at intersections will miss the view of vehicle coming at high speed from the opposite side and this could prove fatal to people. I feel the concerned department should immediately clear the overgrown shrubs and bushes,” he added.
Nihal Gagat from Vasco said stray animals tend to run across the road and they can’t be seen at first due to the bushes, while giving an example about why the work needs to be completed quickly.
A commuter named Ramesh Naibagkar said he almost missed hitting a stray animal twice due to the problems caused by the overgrown bushes.
