MAPUSA
In a move likely to bring relief to thousands of motorists caught in the traffic maze around Porvorim and Merces, the government is planning to open the Porvorim elevated corridor’s exit towards the two Mandovi bridges as early as next week, even as it continues to work on a longer-term traffic solution for the controversial corridor.
Executive Engineer of PWD (NH) Gajanan Desai told The Goan that the proposed exit would initially be opened on a trial basis for around 10 to 15 days, allowing the authorities to assess how traffic behaves before taking a call on opening the corresponding entry from Porvorim towards the Atal Setu.
“Actually, we are in the process of consulting all stakeholders… it will take a little time,” Desai said.
According to the Executive Engineer, the immediate priority is to reduce the pressure on Merces junction, which has been bearing the additional traffic burden since restrictions were imposed on the elevated corridor following the fatal accident shortly after its opening.
“At the moment, temporarily, we feel exit is the better option, where vehicles coming on the flyover will be allowed to leave the flyover at the Porvorim side and proceed to the two Mandovi bridges,” Desai said.
The move is aimed at addressing a traffic problem created by the present arrangement, under which motorists travelling towards Panaji have to take the Atal Setu and then negotiate the Merces junction, adding to congestion at one of the city’s busiest approaches.
“Exit has become necessary because there is too much load at the Merces junction as vehicles wanting to proceed to Panaji are forced to use the Atal Setu and take a detour from Merces junction, clogging the junction there,” Desai said.
The proposed opening, however, will not immediately amount to a permanent change in the traffic configuration.
Desai said the exit would first be tested for about 10 to 15 days, following which the department would review the traffic situation.
“We are possibly planning to open the exit next week and then after 15 days we may think of giving vehicles from Porvorim to proceed to Atal Setu,” he said.
The government is also examining a long-term solution for the corridor, with Desai stressing that the department was proceeding cautiously and consulting all stakeholders before opening both the entry and exit points.
The developments come nearly three weeks after the fatal accident on the newly opened elevated corridor claimed the lives of a man and a woman, triggering a series of restrictions on traffic movement on the flyover.
Since then, motorists have been waiting for the government to restore a more direct movement pattern between Porvorim and Panaji.
While the entry and exit near the Hotel Majestic side have since been opened, the promised opening on the other side to facilitate movement towards the Atal Setu has remained pending.
The proposed exit could therefore provide the first significant easing of the traffic restrictions for motorists travelling from the elevated corridor towards Panaji.
However, one restriction will continue.
“There are no plans to allow two-wheelers on the flyover, at least not at this stage,” Desai said.
For commuters, the proposed opening is more than a change in traffic configuration. The elevated corridor was expected to provide a faster route through one of Goa’s most congested stretches, but the restrictions imposed after the fatal crash have left motorists continuing to depend on already strained roads and junctions.
