MARGAO
In what is seen as a boost for residents of Nuvem opposing the expansion of the NH66 road post-commissioning of the Western Bypass, authorities, including the Traffic Department and RTO, have submitted that traffic plying along the Fr Agnel Complex-Carmel College road has decreased following the inauguration of the Western Bypass.
In this regard, Deputy Collector, South Goa, Avelina D’Sa e Pereira has now sent a letter to the Project Director, Project Monitoring Unit, Goa, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, along with reports and recommendations, including concerns raised by affected residents, for consideration and review of the project’s stretch.
Officials from various departments, including the PWD, Traffic, RTO, and others, along with Nuvem residents, conducted a joint inspection last year of the affected portion from Fr Agnel Complex to Carmel College Junction. The inspection was carried out after distressed residents approached the authorities, as well as South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes, seeking intervention to halt the PWD National Highways' plans to proceed with the road expansion. Their argument was that the commissioning of the Western Bypass had significantly reduced traffic on this stretch.
In its report, the RTO submitted that two accident black spots were identified along this stretch, namely Nuvem to Tata Showroom and Nuvem Bypass to Belloy Nuvem, which were blacklisted for the years 2018-2020. Additionally, RTO officers stated that their office had made several recommendations for improvements on this stretch to reduce road accidents and enhance safety.
In its latest report, however, the RTO noted that these suggestions were proposed in 2021, at which time the Western Bypass was not fully operational, and all vehicular traffic, including heavy vehicles and passenger buses, was using NH66 via Tata Showroom to Carmel College to Nuvem Bypass Junction for onward journeys towards Arlem or Margao City.
“Further, the stretch of the Western Bypass from Verna to the wholesale fish market was made operational in 2021, and the junction near Gorvoti was constructed to allow vehicles to enter and exit the Western Bypass for travel towards Arlem Circle and Ponda-bound traffic. This subsequently reduced traffic on the Fr Agnel Institute Verna to Carmel College Nuvem stretch drastically. As a result, the black spot listed on the Nuvem to Tata Showroom stretch was removed from the black spot list for 2024,” the report added.
Asserting that there is now reduced traffic on NH66 compared to the Western Bypass, the RTO pointed out that the proposed road improvements were suggested before the Western Bypass became operational, at a time when no alternative route was available for vehicular movement. “The situation on the Fr Agnel Institute Verna to Carmel College Nuvem stretch has now changed,” the RTO added.
Nuvem Congress leader Everson Vales has urged the government to take note of the reports and recommendations submitted by various authorities and immediately shelve the expansion of the Fr Agnel-Carmel College road.
