MARGAO
Absence of illumination and the stray cattle menace came to the fore on the Nuvem-Seraulim stretch of the Western bypass after a Maruti van rammed against a stray cattle on the bypass road Wednesday night.
Commissioned by the PWD, National Highway in haste on the plea that the High Court has issued directions to complete and throw open the bypass stretch for traffic on priority, the bypass has no illumination, leaving motorists to fend for themselves during night time. In fact, two-wheeler riders prefer to avoid the bypass road after sunset for want of street lights on the Nuvem stretch of the bypass right up to the wholesale fish market.
While the carcass, which was lying on the road for quite some time was lifted later in the day, and the two occupants of the van convalescing at the Goa Medical College and hospital, Bambolim, the accident has thrown up the question why the stretch has not been illuminated till date on priority, more so when motorists have been using the road for the last couple of months.
Sources in the know informed that the government had sanctioned the installation of street lights and illumination of the bypass road after local MLA Wilfred D’Sa had raised the matter both inside and outside the Assembly.
Officials pointed out that the contract to illuminate the bypass stretch has been awarded to a contractor, but they were clueless why the road still remains in the dark till date.
Given that the bypass has come in handy for the fish agents doing business at the Margao wholesale fish as well as the retail traders to approach the market, the agents and traders on Thursday demanded that the PWD, NH take up the work of installing the street lights on priority.
Meanwhile, Colva police station in-charge, PI Tukaram Chawan informed that the two occupants of the van who sustained injuries in the accident have been shifted to the GMC. He said the two occupants are out of danger.
