MAPUSA
The Karaswada junction on the State Highway (SH)-1 in Mapusa has become synonymous with traffic nightmares, with long queues of vehicles snaking along its roads during peak hours.
Commuters navigating through this crucial intersection face frustrating delays, despite the installation of traffic signals. The congestion stems from multiple factors, as vehicles from various directions converge at the junction.
Particularly problematic is the bottleneck caused by vehicles piling up at the underpass, destined for Bicholim from Mapusa. This obstructs the flow of traffic for those traveling straight from Panaji to Pernem on the service road. Similarly, vehicles traveling from Bicholim or Pernem intersect at the junction, further exacerbating the chaos.
Local residents have voiced their concerns, highlighting the significant increase in travel time due to the gridlock.
Surendra Gawas, a resident, expressed frustration, stating, “The junction turns very chaotic during the evening hours...The authorities have to apply their mind to ease the traffic snarls in this area.”
The situation is compounded by shops encroaching upon the roadside, narrowing the stretch, and two-wheelers parked haphazardly, further impeding traffic movement.
Additionally, public buses servicing the Tivim-Bicholim-Valpoi route contribute to congestion as they halt near the junction to pick up or drop off passengers.
Local demands for action against these roadside shops, deemed illegal by some residents, have intensified.
“The civic authorities should take action against these shops which act as hindrances to smooth traffic movement... Most of these shops are run by outsiders,” asserted a concerned local.
Efforts to address the issue are underway, with proposals to widen the road on the North side of the junction.
However, progress has been hindered by delays in the land acquisition process.
Nevertheless, some shops along the road have been served eviction notices, according to sources within the Mapusa Municipal Council.
“There was a plan to widen the road on the Northern side of the junction. Notices were also issued to some commercial units which had encroached on the roadside,” said a senior engineer with the PWD (roads).
As residents continue to grapple with the daily ordeal of navigating through the congested junction, urgent action is imperative to alleviate the traffic chaos and ensure smoother commutes for all.
