VASCO: For hundreds of commuters who get stuck in traffic jams while commuting towards Airport junction from Chicalim junction every day, the sight of few men carrying out JICA funded sewerage pipeline works is rather annoying.
The commuters opine that if more workers are deployed, the work could be completed expeditiously on this important road leading to Dabolim International airport.
It is now more than a year that the road connecting Chicalim junction to Airport junction is in a big mess as the pipeline work on this important road moves at snail’s pace, causing huge traffic jams almost every day.
According to the citizens, frequent traffic jams near the airport junction were due to a manhole for a chamber over the new water pipeline.
“It takes me nearly 15-20 minutes to travel from Nofra gate to Airport junction on the road connecting Chicalim junction to Airport junction. All thanks to the authorities as they are unnecessarily delaying the work. The traffic jam extends for over half a kilometer and god forbid if a vehicle were to break down, it takes ages to come out of it,” said Preetam Keluskar, a social activist from Vasco.
He is one of the many people who believe that the officials could have completed the pending chamber work by deploying more workers. “It is common sense that instead of one or two workers at site, if you put six, they would be able to complete the work much faster,” he said.
Admitting that frequent traffic congestion just before airport junction, Vasco Traffic Cell in-charge PI Roy Pereira also felt that the work on this busy road should be completed on priority.
“This road is used by the locals and largely by the airport users including large number of taxis. During peak hours, there is continuous flow of vehicles towards airport and officials should complete the work little faster,” Pereira said.
