THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
Work on the construction of the Shantinagar service road was officially launched on Thursday by Vasco MLA Daji Krishna Salkar, addressing a demand which has persisted for over 25 years.
Residents of Shantinagar had faced significant hardships due to the absence of a service road along the highway, forcing them to travel an additional 5 kms to reach the other side or risk using unsafe shortcuts.
The lack of proper infrastructure not only caused inconvenience but also led to frequent accidents, some of which were fatal.
Speaking at the event, MLA Salkar emphasised the importance of the project and assured timely completion.
"The people have been demanding this service road for the last 25 years," said Salkar.
Salkar highlighted the safety risks the absence of the service road posed.
"Residents had to travel over 5 kms to reach the other side of the highway or take shortcuts by moving on the wrong side, which was extremely dangerous. This new road will address these issues and benefit the entire Shantinagar area," he added.
The project, undertaken under the CSR initiative of Gammon India, promises a hotmixed service road, which Salkar assured would be completed within three to four months.
In addition to the service road, plans are underway to develop a parking lot in the area.
"We are trying to create a designated parking area so that bikes and cars are not parked on the road, which can cause accidents, sometimes fatal in nature," said Salkar.
Residents have welcomed the move, expressing relief and hope that the new infrastructure will bring much-needed connectivity and safety improvements to the area.
