PERNEM: Residents of Ugvem have been grappling with significant challenges for several months due to the absence of a service road along the expanded highway stretch. This situation forces commuters to undertake risky maneuvers while accessing the highway or crossing it. In response, the villagers have decided to draft a letter to the Union Transport Minister to address these pressing concerns.
While the villagers express no opposition to the highway expansion, their predicament arises from the lack of a service road and safe crossing points. They accuse both the highway contractor and the relevant authorities of neglecting these crucial aspects, jeopardizing the safety of the local populace.
The residential zone of the village lines one side of the highway, while fields occupy the opposite side. Despite numerous attempts, the villagers’ pleas for the establishment of a service road or underpass have yielded no positive outcomes.
Uday Mahale, a concerned villager, questioned the practicality of navigating the situation, stating, “We want to know how we are supposed to get onto the road or cross the road to reach our fields. It’s been so many months that this stretch of road is taken up for expansion. But there is no proper road through which we can get onto the highway. People risk their lives and cross the road.”
Given that a significant portion of the village’s population relies heavily on farming activities, the need to access their fields regularly is essential. Mukund Mahale, another resident, underscores the requirement for meticulous planning, stating, “We don’t oppose this project or any other, but proper planning is required. There are around 350 houses with approximately 4,000 residents. In the absence of a service road and crossing, it has become dangerous for people to commute, especially for students and the elderly.”
