MAPUSA
For businesses along the Porvorim corridor, the opening of the six-lane elevated road brings a much-awaited end to dust, noise, diversions and difficult access – but also a new uncertainty: will the free flow of traffic above the road mean fewer customers stopping below?
That mixed sentiment is emerging among businesses in the vicinity of the elevated corridor as Porvorim prepares for a major change in its traffic pattern.
For establishments that struggled through the construction activity, the completion of the project is clearly a relief.
“When the construction was going on, it affected our business quite a bit because customers were reluctant to come because of the bad roads, dust, road diversions and closure restrictions,” said Abhishek Gupta, who runs the modern Clip & Snip Salon in Porvorim.
“We don’t see the corridor hurting our business. We may lose some walk-in customers, but our core clientele will continue to come to us. So, overall, we do not expect any major impact,” he added.
But while some businesses are looking forward to the return of easier access, others are wondering whether the very success of the elevated corridor could take away one of their biggest advantages – passing traffic.
The Gauri petrol pump, which witnessed considerable activity before work on the corridor began, saw its fuel sales decline during the construction period. Its management now expects another impact once traffic starts moving above the existing road.
“It is quite natural that our sales will see a significant impact as most vehicles will move over the corridor. Earlier, all vehicles were moving on the NH and our petrol pump was the best option for refuelling,” said a representative of the petrol pump.
For other establishments, however, there is little apprehension about the change in traffic flow.
“I don’t think we will face any problem with the construction of the corridor. Even when the construction was going on, we did not experience much reduction in footfall. We expect to be patronised by people even when the corridor opens for direct traffic,” said Mahesh Jadav, a staffer at upscale restaurant Copperleaf.
The contrasting views underline the uncertainty facing Porvorim's commercial establishments.
Businesses dependent on easy local access may benefit from smoother roads and reduced congestion, while those that rely heavily on passing motorists could see a different outcome once a substantial portion of the traffic is lifted onto the elevated road.
And that makes the impact of the corridor on Porvorim's business landscape something that will only become clear after traffic settles into its new pattern.
