MARGAO
It’s now four days since the Rs 482-crore Margao western bypass opened for vehicular traffic on Monday last, but traffic sign boards indicating that the bypass is now open for Highway traffic is yet to fall in place at the Belem junction, Navelim, where the bypass meets the existing NH66.
A visit to the site on Thursday has revealed that no board has come up directing the motorists to take the bypass which was inaugurated at the hands of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on December 23.
In fact, a sign board “Go Slow, work in Progress” is prominently seen at the Belem road junction till date. What’s further interesting to note and which may cause confusion in the minds of the highway motorists is the fact that a board stands tall at the junction, indicating that the service road starts at the site.
Locals say the sign board may cause confusion as it clearly states the road in question is a service road, when the junction ought to have displayed a board indicating that the bypass road is ready for traffic.
In the absence of traffic sign boards, heavy traffic, including tankers and trailers continue to enter Navelim to take the eastern bypass at Rawanfond to head towards Ponda or the Verna Industrial estate.
