Team Herald
PERNEM: Deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar and PWD Minister Deepak Pauaskar inspected the ongoing work of six-lane highway between Patradevi and Dhargal, on Sunday.
The ministers were accompanied by PWD engineers, road contractor.
During the inspection, the ministers also met the residents of the villages dotting along highway.
During the meeting, the villagers complained to the ministers that they have been facing many difficulties due to the ongoing six-lane highway construction. They alleged that the “negligent behaviour” of the contractor the commuters are at the risk of meeting with accidents leading to injuries and deaths.
People complained that due to the negligence of contactor many people have already lost their lives. They said that the failure of the contactor to install sign boards, signals, reflectors and lights caused the accidents.
They warned that they would no more tolerate such negligent behaviour.
At Torxem and Virnoda, the villagers demanded that underpass, service roads and internal roads be constructed at these two villages to reach the villages from the main road.
After listening to the grievances, Pauaskar and Ajgaonkar assured the villagers that their issues would be noted down and solved.
“We inspected the whole road from Patradevi to Dhargal. We also met the people. We managed to solve some of the issues that the people are facing. However, the demand for underpass at Virnoda and Torxem will be undertaken once the highway work gets completed,” Ajgaonkar said.
Pauaskar said, “People have put forward their demands which are genuine and will be noted down and necessary steps will be taken. Crossing signals at different locations will be installed under State government fund while the proposal for two underpass at Torxema and Virnoda will be forwarded to National Highway authorities and get it sanctioned. We have also directed the contractor to take precautionary steps to avoid any accidental incidents and also to install signboards and reflectors wherever required on immediate basis.”
