DABOLIM: In a bizarre development, the killer Vales junction on National Highway No 566 (earlier NH 17-B) is being reopened with a roundabout as NHAI authorities have buckled under public pressure. The junction that has claimed more than 8 lives and was closed down with a meter wide concrete median will now be reopened with a corporate-funded roundabout at the intersection.
Speaking to Herald, NHAI Project Manager P S Dodamani said that the people surrounding the area wanted it (the median open). “The circle has to be proper with signalling. Signalling has to come here“, said an unsure Dodamani who has overseen the construction of the erstwhile 4 lane NH17B.
The proposal for the Circle was sent to NHAI in March 2018 with the residents of the few houses in the vicinity complaining that they had to drive very far in order to turn to the other side after the median was closed. The killer junction has two roads coming from the busy Jairam Nagar as well as St. Jacinto Island opens suddenly on to the busy National Highways with rapid traffic coming from airport and goods traffic going to Vasco. Yet, defying all traffic norms and bowing to a few locals demands the dangerous junction is being reopened.
Interestingly, when questioned over the problem of road accidents, Dodamani replied stating that the road was a State highway. “The access was there earlier which people in the surrounding used to use. We cannot stop them. For the convenience of the people, since it was there earlier, it was maintained,” he said. He claimed that permissions for the intersection have been taken from NHAI. Dodamani also stated that the work is still under construction and will take some days to get ready since the signals are yet to be installed.
