Team Herald
PONDA: With no designated crossing point for pedestrians, especially schoolchildren, Bondbag-Bethora families are worried about the safety of their children as they attempt to navigate the busy highway.
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Locals, particularly parents of primary school children, are expressing serious concerns over the recent closure of a median gap on the Belgaum-Margao Highway at Bondbag Bethora.
The closure of the median gap, which was previously used to cross the highway, has left primary school students in a perilous situation.
“Our children are now forced to climb over the divider and wait for an opportunity to cross, hoping that speeding vehicles don’t come by,” said one mother of a primary school student. “This is an accident waiting to happen. The authorities need to keep the median gaps open for the sake of our children,” she added.
The parents’ concerns have been further exacerbated by the fact that the closure has not only put children at risk but also created a significant inconvenience for residents. Locals are now compelled to travel an additional three kilometres to reach a roundabout at Borim, adding to the daily burden of commuting.
“We are being forced to drive an extra three kilometres just to get home,” said a frustrated local resident. He further said, “Some bikers, in an attempt to avoid the extra distance, are now taking dangerous shortcuts across the highway, which is increasing the risk of accidents.”
The area, which includes a temple, a school, and several residential homes, has become a focal point of concern for the community. Residents are demanding that the authorities immediately reopen the median gaps to facilitate safe crossings for pedestrians.
“There is a school right here and children need to cross this highway daily. At the very least, for the safety of our students, the authorities should reopen these median gaps,” said another local resident.
The issue has been compounded by the lack of proper infrastructure at the nearby Bethora junction, where there are no flyovers or underpasses.
It is worth noting that the stretch of highway in question, which forms part of the Bethora-Borim bypass, has been recently widened from a two-lane road to a four-lane highway. However, the widening has come with significant drawbacks for local commuters. Despite the road’s expansion, no service roads, underpasses, or flyovers have been constructed to serve the local population, leaving residents to contend with the hazards of a busy, high-speed highway.
A source from the National Highways (NH) authorities stated that the bypass is still classified as a state highway, although efforts are underway to have it officially designated as a National Highway (NH) stretch. Once this happens, the construction of service roads, flyovers, and underpasses may become a possibility. However, attempts to reach the concerned official for further comment on the matter were unsuccessful, as the official could not be contacted by phone.
