Team Herald
PONDA: Ponda and Marcaim locals on Wednesday demanded that the government before implementing new Motor Vehicle Act should inspect the bad road conditions.
They said the MLAs and ministers instead of travelling in cars should commute on two-wheelers on Ponda roads to understand the problems faced by the common man.
The locals complained that most roads are pothole-ridden and dug for sewerage works which have been pending for the past five years.
They demanded that the government delay its decision to implement the new Act.
They further demanded hot-mixing of roads, proper signboards, painting of zebra crossing, etc before implementing the new Act.
The locals called for reducing the hefty fines which they claimed will be a burden on the common man.
Hanumanth Naik, a social worker Durbhat-Adpoi said, “Considering the bad road conditions, the government should listen to Ponda people’s voice. Many of them are suffering from back pain and spondylosis after commuting on two-wheelers on the bad roads.”
Namdev Naik, a Marcaim local said, “For the past many years the Marcaim village roads are in bad condition. The government should implement the new law only after reducing the fines and hot-mixing the roads. Common man will not be in a position to pay hefty fines.”
MGP leader Dr Ketan Bhatikar said, “We are riding on pothole-ridden roads. It’s been two years we are only getting assurances but roads are not hot-mixed. The government is trying to “loot” the people by enforcing new Act without improving the roads. It is better to postpone the implementation of new Act in Ponda as Pondaites are suffering due to bad roads.”
