AGONDA: A safety compound wall is being built along the existing Karmal Ghat road. This measure was undertaken after the Forest Department denied permission to widen the ghat road.
“Since the Forest Department denied the permission to widen the road at Karmal Ghat, the work of erecting a safety compound on the existing road has commenced since Thursday, June 22. This work will be completed within 15 to 20 days without causing inconvenience to the day to day traffic,” highway authority’s assistant engineer Sagar Shet said.
The dangerous turn at Karmal Ghat has been the cause of over 9 severe mishaps in recent times and is under repair due to faulty engineering.
Last week a person from Andhra Pradesh who had come to Goa from Andheri lost his life at this turn while going back via Palolem. The Forest Department officials had stopped the road widening work which began on Wednesday stating that no permissions were granted for the same.
On Thursday, highway authority’s engineers visited the site and present locals agreed for the 1.5 meters tall concrete wall to be erected.
“If the forest department officials are saying that the permission to carry out the work was not granted then how the tender for the road’s construction was floated? The student did not have to lose his life. The people in power taking credit for the work must also take responsibility for the incident,” Jack Fernandes said.
“How come the forest department is denying the permission in Goa, while a road from Mumbai to Bengaluru was constructed? Canacona locals are as aggressive as they are patient. It is a good thing that the work on the dangerous turn is finally happening but it should be completed in time,” said former MLA Vijay Pai Khot.
