MAPUSA: Traffic congestion during peak hours has become a daily ordeal in Porvorim following traffic restrictions imposed due to the ongoing construction of the elevated corridor on NH-66.
Motorists face severe delays while navigating Chogm Road during office hours in the morning and again in the evening when commuters return from work.
The situation worsens on weekends as an influx of outstation tourist vehicles enter the State and move towards the coastal belt of North Goa, leading to prolonged traffic snarls.
In an attempt to avoid congestion on Chogm Road, several motorists divert via the Verem–Pilerne–Saligao route to reach Mapusa and other parts of Bardez and North Goa. However, this alternative route has also begun witnessing frequent traffic jams in recent weeks, adding to commuters’ woes.
Local MLA Kedar Naik acknowledged the inconvenience caused to the public but urged motorists to remain patient for a few more months. He said the congestion on the Verem–Pilerne road was a direct fallout of the elevated corridor work at Porvorim, with motorists opting for the route to bypass traffic restrictions.
“People take the Verem–Pilerne road to avoid traffic at Chogm, but now even this stretch gets choked. Once the elevated corridor project is completed, things will fall into place,” Naik said.
Residents and commuters travelling to and from Panaji along the crucial NH-66 stretch have described the situation as a daily nightmare.
