THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
Monsoon is yet to pick up steam but, in the first rains, the ongoing highway expansion work in Bardez has converted almost 15 kms of NH66 into a treacherous stretch, making motoring extremely dangerous on the highway.
With loose mud on the edge of service roads threatening to break free and failure to adopt reasonable safety measures, motorists are risking their lives while using the highway in the wet season.
Several spots on the highway, from Guirim (Green Park) to Colvale (Binani), have turned perilous and if authorities fail to take immediate steps, disaster is waiting to happen.
At many places, loose mud used to construct the service roads has settled down while potholes and slush on roads makes travelling hazardous along the highway route.
Similarly, there are some diversions which can misguide even regular users and with lack of proper indicators it could be disastrous for an unsuspecting motorist.
At several stretches, no proper medians between lanes have been constructed leaving the motorists guessing. Absence of streetlights and illuminated signages has made commuting during the nights even more dangerous.
A senior PWD engineer expressed disgust with the way the contractors were undertaking the works without taking the safety of the commuters into account.
“The contractors entrusted with the highway job have been behaving as a law unto themselves. All along the stretch, mud has been filled in a very haphazard manner. Safety measures have been totally neglected,” the senior PWD engineer said.
There are several danger spots which need a hard look and corrective measures taken to avoid untoward incidents.
Telltale signs have appeared on the service road at Guirim while proceeding towards the North. With the first rain, loose mud on the side of the road has washed away. Further showers could lead to collapse of the road embankment.
There are several such spots on either side of the highway where loose mud on the edge of the road could give way and lead to major catastrophe.
Contractors have failed to erect adequate signages at the crucial four-lane junction at Carrasvaddo and key diversions at Peddem and Colvale.
Recently, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant paid a visit to the Guirim and Carrasvaddo junctions and instructed the highway authorities to take corrective steps, including erection of signages in the area.
Surprisingly, in spite of the CM’s recommendation, no such safety measures have been taken up.
An engineer attached to the national highway said the contractors undertaking the job have been informed several times to adopt safety measures while executing the work.
“The contractors have been asked to put up signages and take necessary precautions to avoid accidents. They have also been warned that they will be penalized if they fail to do so,” the engineer said.
The highway expansion work from Patradevi to Bambolim is being executed by MVR Infra Project Pvt Ltd.
While the Patradevi to Carrasvaddo stretch has been awarded for Rs 630 crore, the Carrasvaddo to Bambolim part, which includes 3.7 km of elevated corridor from Sangolda junction to Delfinos in Porvorim, has been awarded for Rs 537 crore.
