The National Highway No 17 stretch from Dramapur to Balli Patem has only the ‘highway’ tag and residents have given it a new name – ‘Killer Road’. Some stretches on this highway are so narrow that they are worse than a major district road.
Although some parts of the NH17, like in Navelim, are being broadened, the stretch at Cuncolim is in a very bad state. Nobody appears to be serious about the road widening, whether it was previous congress regime or the present BJP government, all have failed to give justice to commuters using this road.
Twenty-five years back, the then Rane government had initiated primary work of land acquisition for widening of NH 17 from Navelim to Balli. Even the PWD engineers had finalised the alignment for road widening and had decided to build a bypass from Uskiniarik Cuncolkar to Demani. This proposal never materialised because there were many houses coming on the way in the new alignment. Finally the Congress government scraped that proposal after public opposition, keeping the issue pending.
During the Congress regime the former MLA and then Urban Development minister Joaquim Alemao had proposed a bypass from Panzorconi Cuncolim via Shimpler, Comba to Balli. This was the best proposal since there were fewer houses and structures obstructing the proposal.
One of the Temple committees used their political clout and forced the government to also scrap this proposal. Recently the BJP government finally planned a new alignment to construct a bypass parallel to the Konkan Railway line. The Central government railway authorities have acquired the land and the BJP government agreed to the new proposal and had even mentioned it in the Regional Plan 2021. The government was also not allowing any construction on the proposed plan site but five years have lapsed since this proposal was sanctioned and nothing has been done by the BJP government to put the plan into reality.
Former MLA Raman Naik was after this proposal but could do precious little. This government and PWD are seating with the latest proposal for the past five years. The only hurdle seen to the new proposal is permission from the Konkan Railway ministry. If this proposal comes into existence there will be less destruction and less expenditure, sources said.
Some are debating why the existing highway cannot be broadened by rehabilitating those existing close to the road. The existing NH17 passes from Cuncolim Market, Balli market, Panzorconi and Chinchinim junction. There is little scope for extension if the government wants a six lane highway because there is hardly any space available on either side of the highway and result into major destruction of houses and structures along the way.
Shopkeepers in Cuncolim and Balli are against the widening of the existing highway. “We will come on the road if government goes ahead with road widening. How can the government bulldoze its way in the aged old market? There are educational institutions, religious places and more than hundred houses on this road. Will the government demolish all this for a Highway? asks Mr. Talaulikar, a shopkeeper from Cuncolim.
Shopkeeper V. Fal Dessai who owns a restaurant at Balli junction told Herald that “there is need of road widening but not on the present road. There is a school and Panchayat building on this road, how can government demolish them? It will be destruction in the name of road extension.”
Kamlaksh Prabhugaonkar said there is an urgent need of Highway extension. This road has become killer road many have lost lives because of this narrow road. Traffic congestion is the daily story in Cuncolim and Balli. This narrow road is a big threat to school students. More than 4000 students use this NH17 every day. There is market just touching NH17. Will the Parrikar Government solve this long pending issue?” asks Kamlaksh Prabhugaonkar a senior citizen and retired teacher.
There are five schools, three higher secondaries, one degree college, about six primary schools are using this NH17 putting their life into risk. Many tourists who are visiting Holy places in Balli and Fatorpa temples also use this road.
Parking on the road side is also making things worse. During the peak hours, Sundays and holidays one can see serpentine queues of vehicles due to traffic congestion at Cuncolim and Balli. Will Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and PWD minister Sudin Dhavalikar look into this issue on an urgent basis? When will the cursed ‘Killer Road’ become commuter friendly? residents ask.
