MARGAO
The Seraulim road underpass is being readied to host vehicular traffic again, with PWD officials draining the accumulated water and clearing debris from the approach roads to the subway.
If senior PWD officials are to be believed, the subway is expected to reopen for vehicular traffic next week after the potholes inside the underpass are filled.
A senior PWD official told The Goan that the accumulated water inside the underpass has been drained after unclogging a nearby drain.
“Water accumulation inside the subway has been drained after an adjoining stormwater drain was cleared of blockages. Some work remains on the repair and removal of the potholes inside the underpass. Hopefully, the Seraulim underpass should be open for vehicular traffic by next week,” the official added.
The official, however, cautioned that the Seraulim underpass may not be of much use for vehicular traffic during the rains, given the topography of the area, with rainwater flowing into the subway and leaving it waterlogged during the monsoon.
Incidentally, the Seraulim gram sabha was scheduled to discuss the underpass issue and adopt a resolution demanding a flyover at the underpass location. However, the gram sabha was adjourned without transacting any major business following an uproar over the issue of permission to set up a business on the landfilling site.
The Seraulim underpass was ordered shut by the district Collector, South, via a notification after the subway became waterlogged and damaged during the monsoon. Although the Collector’s notification temporarily closed the underpass due to waterlogging, the subway remained shut for over a month despite the fact that the Collector’s order had lapsed.
