Team Herald
PONDA: The Curti-Bethora-Borim bypass road has been widened and converted into a four-lane highway. However, since then, local residents have felt the urgent need for an underpass or a flyover at the Bethora main junction due severe traffic congestion on bypass road.
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Fearing that the prevailing chaotic situation could lead to accidents, the residents have called for the immediate construction of a flyover.
According to locals, the four-lane expansion was carried out without provisions for underpasses or a flyover, leaving key infrastructure developments incomplete.
Residents claim that the widened road has led to increased traffic, particularly heavy vehicles speeding towards Margao and Belagavi. In addition, industrial estate workers commuting via Bethora Junction have contributed to congestion, especially during working hours. The same road also provides access to the Bethora Nirankal Conshem Codar panchayat and the Dabal Kirlapal panchayat.
Local resident Hemant Samant has strongly emphasised the urgent need for a flyover at Bethora Main Junction.
“Our priority is the flyover,” he said. “For the past two years, I have repeatedly raised this issue at the gram sabha and even wrote to the PWD (National Highways) two years ago requesting the construction of a flyover.”
Samant stressed that the Panchayat’s priority should be the flyover. However, he suggested that until the flyover is constructed, a traffic signal system should be installed to manage the heavy traffic from all directions.
“There is an industrial estate at Bethora, and due to this, there is chaos during working hours. Everyone wants to cross the road, which could lead to accidents. The government should immediately construct a flyover at the junction,” he added.
Meanwhile, Madu Khandeparkar, Sarpanch of Bethora Nirankal Conshem Codar Panchayat, revealed that authorities are currently working on installing a traffic signal system at the junction to regulate traffic.
“There is ongoing follow-up with the authorities regarding this issue. If implemented, this would be the first traffic signal system in Ponda taluka, and it could help streamline the traffic flow at the junction,” he said.
Residents, however, remain firm in their demand for a flyover, insisting that a traffic signal system can only be a temporary solution to an escalating traffic problem.
