PONDA: The officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, on Saturday inspected the Bandora Junction, Khandepar Bridge and Ponda-Mollem Highway.
The officials from Delhi were accompanied by EE Shashikant Desai and JE Chandra Parwar of NH Work Division 15 at Ponda.
Speaking to media persons Desai said, “The officials inspected the KTC bus stand area and the proposed underpass at Bandora junction. The inspection was with regards to the proposal for completing the pending approach road work/ramp to Khandepar Bridge towards Ponda side. The officials said the accident-prone zones from Mollem to Anmod Ghat section will be improved by widening the road.
It may be recalled that the Ponda and Bandora locals were forced to undergo hardship while crossing the road at the historic Safa Masjid junction. The underpass was not feasible along the widened road as Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) did not permit the same as the Safa Masjid which is located close to the Highway is a protected site.
Desai said, “The proposed underpass will help in the smooth movement of buses and vehicles to the KTC bus stand and Chirputem residential area. Similarly, the vehicles proceeding to Nagueshi-Bandora will use the straight road as usual.”
He said, “The work on the ramp/approach road to Khandepar bridge was pending. The old house along the approach road has been cleared from where the ramp/approach road is proposed to connect the bridge.”
It is pertinent to note that the new four-lane Khandepar Bridge was inaugurated two years ago without approach road/ramp towards the Ponda side. The NH traffic was diverted via the service road. The matter with respect to approach road was pending as the house owner had approached the court. Now, as the matter stands disposed, the house on approach road has been demolished and ramp/approach road work towards Ponda side of bridge is expected to complete soon. The absence of ramp/ approach road to Khandepar bridge often caused traffic congestion along the internal roads in Khandepar.
