CUNCOLIM: The National Highway from Navelim to Balli is turning into a market place with the sides of the National Highway 17 encroached by vendors who sell fish, vegetables, fruits, biscuits and a whole range of other items. There are at least fifty such vendors. What concerns locals, especially commuters is that the width of the NH17 that passes from Navelim to Balli is narrow and less than the size of a Major District Road (MDR) even. This stretch of NH 17 has been identified as an accident-prone zone as well. To add to this, the highway is usually always full of stray cattle, which makes the actual pathway very small.
At Sarzora, locals say the NH 17 is akin to a fish market. More than five fish vendors sell fish on the side of the highway from 6 am to nine pm. These are not just small fish traders but those who trade in big and expensive fish like Kingfish, ‘Chonak’, Pomfret, Tamso’ and other highly-priced fish. Consumers from Chinchinim, Assolna, Sarzora, Cuncolim, Dramapura and even from Navelim and other commuters, who pass by this road, wait at this place to buy fish. During peak hours, one can see many vehicles lined up in a queue by the road side for the same. While this puts the lives of commuters’ at risk, locals point out that many times, commuters who were otherwise heading to Margao, suddenly halt and change sides to make these purchases but in doing so, they could invite accidents on a highway stretch known for mishaps . It is to be noted that this fish market at Sarzora began after the nation-wide lockdown that took place earlier this year.
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Similar type of fish vendors, who have encroached the national highway, can be seen at Navelim, Jacniband, Panzorconi, Cuncolim bus stand, Demani and Balli Junction.
Not only fish vendors but also the likes of vegetable vendors, fruit vendors,
Omelette Pao Gaddas, fast food gaddas, and those selling items like doormats etc are sitting on the side of the highway and putting people’s lives at risk.
This even though the State government has banned such type of activity by the road side and that the authorities like the police, highway, panchayat and municipality are aware of the same but aren’t taking any action.
Vendors however point out that they have been paying sopo tax to the village panchayat and municipal councils.
When the traffic police were contacted they said it is not their look out. The self governing bodies like panchayats and municipalities said it is the look out of the national highway authorities. Some individuals and NGOs have also filed police complaints in the matter, which also reached the Chief Minister’s attention; and the Fisheries Minister and Velim MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues has seen this as he passes the same highway roads.
