SANTOSH NAIK
teamherald@herald-goa.com
Traffic junctions and speed breakers are meant to regulate traffic and reduce road mishaps, but they have had quite the opposite effect in Ponda taluka.
Poorly designed traffic junctions and speed breakers as well as inadequate illumination around major traffic junctions have led to a number of road mishaps across Ponda taluka and public pressure is mounting on authorities to address the situation on a priority basis.
The first problem that confronts many motorists is the poor visibility of the junctions, as they are largely hidden from shops, houses and bus stops located at the junctions.
One of the more dangerous junctions is at Opa in Khandepar and the site has witnessed a number of mishaps. Concerned residents have petitioned the government to widen the road, especially due to the presence of many students moving along the road.
“So far, there has been no improvement at the junction,” said Sandeep Parkar, who resides close to the Opa junction. “The recent accident at the Opa junction on June 17 has only added to the growing list of mishaps at the site. The truck driver from Andhra Pradesh failed to notice the speed breaker and the truck rammed into a roadside tree.”
Another accident-prone zone is located along the Farmagudi-Dhavali bypass.
“The sharp turn and unexpected speed breakers on the steep slope at the Farmagudi-Dhavali bypass at Venkteshlila catches many motorists by surprise,” said Nilgiri Hill Association Secretary Nilesh Naik.
Kavlem Sarpanch Rajesh Kavlekar has now requested the State government to remove the speed breakers in the area, as they have increased, rather than decreased, the number of mishaps at the site.
On June 8, a tanker driver was injured when the vehicle overturned along the Farmagudi-Dhavali bypass road. The driver was unaware of the speed breaker on the slope and the vehicle rammed against an electricity pole, before turning turtle.
According to another resident, Kashinath Naik, four vehicles have been recently involved in mishaps at the site.
The Bythekhol junction at Borim also had a notorious reputation as an accident-prone zone, until authorities decided to widen the road and construct a traffic island. The road mishaps may have been minimised, but not eliminated. An aviation turbine fuel tanker, a concrete mixing truck and a motorcycle in involved in separate mishaps in the past few months at the site.
When asked to speculate on factors leading to mishaps at the widened Bythekhol junction, Raia-based Amar Naik, a motorist who travels along the route frequently said: “First, the road around the circle is narrow. Quite often, heavy vehicles speeding from Ponda are suddenly confronted by the narrow road at the Bythekhol junction. The drivers slam the brakes and the vehicles end up skidding on the road.”
“Second, there is no proper illumination of the Bythekhol junction, making it difficult to notice the junction from a distance. In fact, a high mast lamp should be installed at this busy junction, as it is a main link between North and South Goa,” Naik added.
When contacted, Borim Sarpanch Sanjay Gavde said the panchyat has moved a resolution for proper illumination at the Bythekhol junction.
“The panchayat has submitted the resolution to the PWD (highway) officials and we have also spoken to the chief minister in this regard,” said Gavde.
Speaking to Herald, local MLA and Industries Minister Mahadev Naik said he would ask the PWD to inspect the accident-prone traffic junction and added that he would also work towards the widening of the road at the site.
Krishna Naik from Bandivade-Ponda has list out various other accident-prone junctions in Ponda taluka.
“These are located at the GVM circle (Farmagudi), Mangueshi junction (Mangueshi), the petrol pump junction at Dhavali, the junction near the Borim Bridge, the Amigos junction along the Curti Bypass and the junction near the RTO and KTC bus stand in Ponda.
