Roads must remain open for traffic during day: MLA
Tourism Minister and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte interacts with government officials in the presence of Deputy Speaker and Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza in Porvorim on Wednesday morning.
MAPUSA/PORVORIM
In an effort to accelerate work on the Porvorim elevated corridor and reduce traffic disruption in the peak tourist season, Tourism Minister and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte on Wednesday floated the idea of carrying out major construction activities during night hours while allowing the roads to remain open for vehicular traffic during the day.
Khaunte said any traffic diversions necessitated by the elevated corridor works would be introduced only after suitable alternative routes are in place.
“People should not face difficulties. It’s important to open new roads and lanes for smooth movement of traffic. At several areas road stretches are in bad shape which have to be repaired and hot-mixed for quick and smooth traffic movement,” he said.
“Under no circumstance should the smooth movement of vehicles be disrupted due to ongoing construction work. I have advised government officials concerned to carry out the work of the flyover from 9 pm to 5 am. This ongoing work can be done with proper coordination and without closure of the roads,” said Khaunte.
The proposal was discussed during an on-site inspection of the ongoing elevated corridor project along the Porvorim–Mapusa route.
Present at the inspection were Khaunte, Deputy Speaker and Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza, North Goa Collector Ankit Yadav, PWD Chief Engineer (Roads) Dattaprasad Kamat, SP Traffic Prabhodh Shirvoikar, Dy Superintendent of Police Viswesh Karpe, Pilerne Deputy Sarpanch Ajay R Govekar, Panch members of Socorro Panchayat and locals.
The minister also suggested other options to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
“Heavy vehicles should not be allowed to pass through Porvorim and should be diverted from Karaswaddo. I have also asked the traffic police not to allow parking of vehicles by the side of roads and to remove abandoned vehicles, which obstruct the smooth movement of traffic,” said Khaunte.
“I had also advised the PWD to hotmix the road near the Khapreshwar Devasthan, but the work has still not been done. I had also asked the PWD to hotmix all service roads and widen the existing roads, if required, to facilitate the smooth movement of vehicular traffic,” said Khaunte.
Claiming there is no coordination between government departments, the minister said he has advised the National Highways and State Highways to coordinate among themselves and complete the elevated corridor work without closing the roads in Porvorim.
