MARGAO
The accident prone traffic junction at Belem-Navelim, where the western bypass meets the National Highway No 66 was back in the news on Wednesday after woman rider was knocked down by a Karnataka-registered vehicle.
Eye witnesses pointed out that the lady rider was dragged by the four-wheeler for a distance at the junction. Margao police station in-charge, PI Tulsidas Naik, who rushed to the spot, informed the media that the lady rider has sustained injuries on her hand and is convalescing at the Goa Medical College and hospital, Bambolim.
The accident has only brought to the fore that the Belem traffic junction has turned accident prone since the western bypass stretch was connected to the NH66 last year.
Local residents claimed that the traffic junction has become accident prone since the western bypass was connected to the NH66 in the absence of a flyover to regulate the smooth flow of traffic.
They pointed out that confusion reigns supreme at the junction especially involving outstation vehicles, who take the bypass road thinking it is a highway with the wide road lying ahead.
Navelim resident George Barretto told the media that a number of fatal accidents have taken place at the Belem junction since the western bypass road was connected to the highway.
“We fail to understand why the authorities have opened the western bypass when work on the bypass is not complete along the Benaulim stretch”, he said.
George has taken strong objection to the apathy and indifference of the authorities in repairing the traffic signals installed at the Belem junction. “We serve an ultimatum on the PWD to repair the traffic signals at the junction immediately or the people will dismantle the signals”, he warned.
