Team Herald
MARGAO: Rumdamol Panch, Vinayak Volvoikar, Vishwadas Naik and other locals staged a rasta roko to draw attention of the authority concerned to highlight the pathetic condition of the roads from Power House Circle to MES Rawanfond, and from Rawanfond Circle to Railway Station Road leading to Rajendra Prasad Stadium.
According to Panch Vinayak Volvoikar, this stretch of the road has developed numerous potholes, posing dangers to vehicular traffic after causing serious accidents.
“The District Administration which has appointed a district road and safety council comprising the District Collector, PWD, RTO and Traffic Cell seems to be completely dormant. The Margao MLA seems to be unaware of the grave problems. He is more concerned with issues related to tourism, health and employment. But he seems to be ignorant of the fact that the bad roads create a poor impression of Goa among the tourists,” said Panch Volvoikar.
The increasing number of road incidents is the cause of overcrowding in the hospital (Hospicio), where two or three patients are compelled share on a single bed.
Volvoikar further stated that the Traffic Police is busy issuing challans to the motorists for not wearing helmets, but no one is interested in ensuring that the roads are safe and free from potholes. He also stated that the previous Collector of South Goa was only busy attending functions of the Ministers and MLAs and she was least bothered about the development and upkeep of the District. He also requested the new Collector to come and inspect the state of the above mentioned roads and take stock of the situation.
The Locals and Panchas have given a one week ultimatum to solve the issue, failing which they have threatened to intensify the agitation.
Meanwhile, residents of Davorlim and Ravanfond have expressed anguish over the bad road and undeveloped Rawanfond junction. The people have demanded erection of traffic signals like Bolshe Circle and Old market circle to provide the much needed relief to the people of all the areas coming to this circle.
The Davorlim village road opens up on to the junction and has become immensely dangerous to the commuters while travelling through the junction. Almost every day there is one minor or major accident on this junction. People have been demanding rumbler strips or speed breakers at the road coming from Ravanfond but the file has never seen the light of the day.
Anand Sawant a Davorlim resident said, “The MLAs of South Goa should learn from Vijai Sardesai on how he is fulfilling the demands of his constituency. However, the circle and the people residing and travelling around this circle are not very fortunate as the work of has never been executed,” he said.
