Team Herald
VASCO: Following objection by a Vasco-based NGO, a speed breaker installed on the four-lane National Highway 17B near Dabolim Airport was removed on Monday. Surprisingly, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) Project Director P S Doddamani has claimed that the speed breaker was built illegally by Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) some two months back and no permission was obtained from NHAI.
A social worker and NGO from Vasco, Tara Kerkar, had complained to the NHAI officials about the installation of speed breakers on both sides of the four-lane highway road leading to and from Dabolim airport near INS Hansa gate at Dabolim. Kerkar in her complaint had claimed that due to improper speed-breakers, accidents and casualties were on the rise and moreover, the height of speed breaker was very high posing serious threat to two-wheeler riders. Following her objection, a joint site inspection was held on Monday and it was decided to remove the speed breakers. The inspection orders were issued by the Collector, South Goa.
Kerkar said she had told the project director of NHAI and she had also written to the district collector South to remove the speed breakers however no action was initiated until she threatened to approach the court as such improper speed breakers were in clear violation of Supreme Court order.
Meanwhile, after inspecting the site, NHAI Project Director P S Doddamani informed that the speed breaker was illegal as the same was installed without permission from NHAI. He said GSIDC had undertaken work for grade separator and thus without giving any thought, they build speed breakers without specifications. Now we have given orders to remove the speed breaker,” Doddamani said.
