AGNELO PERERIA
MAPUSA
Without illumination, no signages whatsoever and failure to install traffic monitoring signals the opening of the new four-lane overbridge and underpass on NH17 (Now NH66) in Bastora is fraught with huge risks.
In fact, soon after the overbridge was thrown open to vehicular traffic after its inauguration, there was utter confusion with motorists heading towards Panaj, after crossing the overbridge, suddenly trying to enter the service road to head towards Mapusa.
Surprisingly, only one cop was found monitoring the traffic after the overbridge was thrown open for motorists.
Clearly, motorists were clueless on how to use the service roads to either enter the city of Mapusa or to move to Aldona and the villages beyond.
Many motorists, ignorant about the opening of the overbridge, continued using the service roads on either side meeting head on with motorists using the underpass.
At night time, with no lights, the whole stretch of the highway could turn into a nightmare especially for speeding motorists.
After the overbridge and heading towards the North, there are two electricity poles right in the middle of the road, without lights.
For an unsuspecting motorist, the only indicator for caution is the placement of some black-coloured barrels around the poles. The barrels have no radium stickers to highlight an unsuspecting motorist. And for a speeding motorist it could be a sure shot recipe for disaster.
“The government has done a very big mistake by not taking enough safety measures before opening the overbridge and the highway. If the authorities don’t pull up their socks, within a day or two we will see a major accident on this stretch,” said Adv Naveen Bhivshet, a resident from the area.
A traffic cop on duty near the underpass confirmed that some urgent measures were the need of the hour, as some motorists were clueless on how to use the service roads.
“One of the top priorities is to install speed breakers on the both the service roads just before the start of the underpass. Many motorists come at full speed which could lead to a major disaster,” he concurred.
With authorities yet to fix electricity poles on the route, a stretch of almost 5 kms including the overbridge, will be totally in the dark at least for some time.
With no sign boards, no speed breakers, no lights and just a couple of traffic cops to monitor the situation, the stretch along the NH-17 (NH-66) at Bastora could soon turn into a deathtrap.
