the goan I network
VASCO
Claiming that the entire diversion has been planned in a haphazard manner, the Cortalim Panchayat has also stated that the diversion has been unilaterally decided without realising the ground realities in the area.
“The NH 66 traffic diversion through MDR roads in Cortalim was decided without confiding with the local panchayat and understanding the bottlenecks and issues that will shadow local commuters and other passers by from the village,” stated a press note issued by the Cortalim panchayat.
“It will also disturb the motorists who may face difficulties due to inadequate internal roads to manage highway traffic and the nuisance which may be inadvertently caused, resulting in commotion between villagers and commercial commuters.”
Claiming that the entire diversion has been planned in a haphazard manner, the panchayat stated that the diversion ought to have been planned and systematic projection of stage-wise completion should have been be considered.
“The diversion planned will not only disturb the village of Cortalim, but all vehicles and commuters who will end up in jams for hours together which is already being experienced at the highway in Cortalim.”
“The diversion is hypothetically and unilaterally decided without realising the impact of the day-to-day affairs and lives of villages and management of commuters, due to the traffic diversion.”
The Cortalim panchayat also insisted that the internal road which is sought to be used for a diversion “is incapable of managing the highway traffic.” “The local body has not been taken into confidence and no suggestion or public opinion was considered to take a decision in relation to traffic diversion, more particularly when there are around 5 schools in the area.”
The Cortalim panchayat has stated that the diversion “will impair the traffic and will cause inconvenience to all commuters, whose interest ought to be taken.” “There will be public who may be rushing to their offices, courts, hospitals, schools colleges, business engagements, airport and no safety precautions have been taken.”
Verna Ind to demand elevated corridor on NH 17-B’s stretch
PANAJI: The President of Verna Industries Association, Damodar Kochkar, has said that they are going to demand an elevated corridor on the 3.5-km long stretch of NH 17-B, which cuts across Verna Industrial Estate.
As of now, work is happening to widen NH 17-B and once that is done, a lot of people will take this route even if they don’t have any work at Verna Industrial Estate.
Kochkar said, “Once NH 17-B is widened, people will take this route if they have to go from Vasco Harbour to Farmagudi. Everyone from Ponda will take this route for going to Dabolim Airport. As a result, there will be bumper to bumper traffic.”
“The factories here are concerned about the safety of their workers. Therefore, we are going to place a demand in front of Public-Works-Department (PWD) officials for construction of an elevated corridor from Titan stop till Bosch company,” Kochkar continued.
Earlier, Verna Industries Association was demanding the construction of subways on NH 17-B, which could be used by workers to cross the road. However, sources informed that few factories are constructed where subways were being planned and therefore subways, as an option, are ruled out.
A number of factories at Verna have their main gates almost touching NH 17-B. Obviously, there will be risk of accidents for workers crossing to enter such factories once traffic increases after road widening.
Kochkar said, “This is the reason we are proposing an elevated corridor over NH 17-B. Those, who are crossing Verna Industrial Estate for another destination, will be able to take the elevated road. And those, who work at Verna Industrial Estate, will be able to take the road under the elevated road.”
