The ‘Mission for Local’ has claimed to have received assurances from the assistant engineer of National Highway Authority (NH66) that additional signboards would be erected at all dangerous curves along the diversion route of the highway at Pernem.
With the construction of a flyover underway at Nhyabag–Porskade on National Highway 66, the main highway has been closed to traffic.
As a result, all vehicular movement has been diverted through the old National Highway 17. However, this alternative route has become hazardous due to sharp bends, steep gradients and the lack of adequate warning and direction signboards, increasing the risk of accidents.
In view of this, Mission for Local President Rajan Korgaonkar, along with his colleagues, met Assistant Engineer Tari of the National Highway Department and submitted a memorandum demanding immediate safety measures.
The memorandum urged the department to install additional direction signboards, warning signs, speed limit boards and reflective safety markers at all dangerous curves along the diversion route.
Taking note of their demands, Tari inspected the Nhyabag–Porskade stretch and assured the delegation that the suggestions made by Mission for Local would be implemented and that additional safety signboards would be installed at hazardous locations without delay.
Speaking on the occasion, Korgaonkar said that several shortcomings in the construction of National Highway 66 were overlooked by officials during the execution of the project.
As a result, the stretch from Dhargal Mahakhazan to Patradevi has become unsafe for motorists. He pointed out that waterlogging at several locations, uneven road levels and dangerous curves have made driving difficult and significantly increased the possibility of accidents.
He further urged the government to conduct a comprehensive inspection of all accident-prone locations on the highway and immediately install proper direction signboards, warning signs, reflective markers and other road safety measures to ensure the safety of commuters.
Former sarpanchas Rupesh Parab and Raju Narse, Krishna Palekar, Shinde, and other Mission for Local members were present on the occasion.
