VASCO
The decision to divert traffic at Cortalim to facilitate work of the new bridge Zuari bridge has not gone well down with villagers under the Velsao-Pale-Issorcim panchayat, who now fear the diversion may affect the famous Three Kings feast at Velsao on January 6.
Villagers are upset with the news that the diversion may be finalised after January 5. They said the Three Kings feast at Velsao attracts residents and tourists alike from all over the world.
The diversion may lead to traffic bottlenecks on the interior narrow roads in the panchayat jurisdiction, they feared.
The Velsao-Pale-Issorcim panchayat is also up in arms over the proposed diversion of vehicles plying between Panaji and Margao via Cortalim circle.
The members of the panchayat have requested Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha to immediately call for a meeting with the contractor and South Goa Collector along with panchayat bodies to resolve this issue.
Panchayat members have said that if the road diversion is finalised then the decision will increase tremendous vehicular load on NH17B highway and will cause accidents especially near the Queeny Nagar circle where the road used by villagers connects to the highway.
Panchayat members have claimed that there was no intimation of any sort on traffic diversion from the contractor, administration or Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha.
Deputy Sarpanch Sylvia D’Souza said that a special panchayat body meeting has been called on December 28 to discuss the diversion issue. D’Souza said things have to be planned before such extreme decisions are taken.
“I will put up a proposal to widen the village road connecting the highway near the dangerous Queeny Nagar circle on both sides and place it before the department concerned
after adopting a resolution,” she said.
The vehicles from the coastal belt, including the ones plying for hotels, use this road to move to the airport, she said and added, “The Queeny Nagar junction is an accident-prone zone. As such alternate arrangements have to be made.”
Sarpanch Henriques D’Mello said that the contractor had taken Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha and the panchayat for granted. “Saldanha must call for an immediate meeting along with panchayat members and the contractor involved. We are not even sure if Saldanha was informed about this proposed diversion. We haven’t received any information from her nor the State administration regarding this diversion,” he stated.
“People will start using our village roads to connect to the highway and we will not be able to handle such huge traffic on our roads. Saldanha must take efforts to defer this proposal,” D’Mello said.
