MARGAO
There’s no let up in the number of road accidents on the service roads of the recently commissioned western bypass at Benaulim since the bypass was officially thrown open for vehicular traffic on Monday last.
Thursday saw a two-wheeler badly injured in an accident with a black and yellow taxi right under the road underpass on the Khareband-Pedda Benaulim road. The two-wheeler rider was rushed to the South Goa district hospital by a 108 ambulance as he sustained fractured leg injuries, but the incident brought to the fore that the service roads connecting the internal roads at Benaulim have turned accident-prone for want of proper regulation.
Social activist from Benaulim, Santan Pereira said three major accidents have taken place on the service road near the underpass at Khareband-Pedda road and near the Mercado Mall underpass road on Christmas Day. He wondered whether the PWD, both National Highway and the PWD, roads have completed the western bypass project and not bothered to ensure implementation of road safety measures on the service roads, near the underpasses at Mercado mall, Khareband-Pedda and at the underpass near the wholesale fish market.
Santan demanded that the PWD officials explore the possibility of erecting speed breakers at the accident-prone zone, saying the rumblers erected by the PWD on the service roads have not helped to regulate and control speed of vehicles. “All the four accidents that have taken place in the last two days are because of the absence of speed breakers”, he added.
Local activist Roque Fernandes made a fervent plea to the authorities, including the district Collector, South, besides officials of the traffic, PWD, NH and PWD, Roads, to intervene and hold a joint inspection before the chaotic situation claim the lives of motorists. “The situation is indeed serious and calls for immediate attention”, he said.
Varca resident Warren Alemao demanded that the authorities streamline traffic at the blind spots around the three underpasses on the western bypass stretch from Benaulim to Seraulim. “The blind spots at Mercado mall, Tolleaband and wholesale fish market have turned into accident zones. The authorities should immediately erect speed breakers on the service roads of the western bypass and trim the branches of trees in the vicinity of the underpasses to ensure clear view of the traffic”, Warren said.
He added: “The underpasses on the new Western Bypass bridge pose serious safety risks due to complete blind spots. Immediate action is needed to install speed breakers and streetlights at all underpass junctions to prevent accidents. Every life matters, and these measures are crucial to ensure the safety of all road users. Let’s act now before it’s too late. Spread awareness and demand urgent improvements for safer roads”.
