PONDA: More than 350 concerned villagers have united in a plea for a vehicular underpass at Kerya Khandepar, citing the pressing need to ensure the safety of school students and pedestrians. Their impassioned call for action has been directed towards key authorities, including the PWD Ponda Works Division XV (NH), VP Curti Khandepar, the Ponda MLA, the PWD Minister, and the Chief Minister of Goa.
Expressing deep apprehension over recent highway expansion efforts undertaken without community consultation, the villagers emphasized the heightened risk of accidents posed by the widened national highway.
During a visit to the area, National Highway Assistant Engineer Chandra Powar acknowledged the concerns raised by locals, noting that pending NH works approved in 2014 would be prioritized before considering the feasibility of an underpass. However, villagers urged for a joint project encompassing both the construction of the service road and the much-needed underpass.
The absence of an underpass amid the ongoing four-lane highway expansion and one-sided service road development has left locals grappling with the daunting prospect of crossing the increasingly busy thoroughfare. Despite existing zebra crossings, which remain unpainted, villagers fear for the safety of school children and residents traversing the six-lane road without adequate pedestrian infrastructure.
Rocky Dias, a resident, lamented the lack of an underpass despite the presence of essential community amenities such as schools and the Holy Cross chapel in the vicinity, underscoring the hardships faced by locals in navigating the perilous highway.
As safety concerns escalate, the collective voice of the villagers underscores the urgent need for authorities to address the pressing issue of pedestrian safety and ensure the well-being of all road users in Kerya Khandepar.
