THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Traffic signals have returned back to regulate traffic at the accident prone Belem-Navelim traffic junction, days after Navelim villagers threatened to uproot the defunct signal poles.
The traffic junction now also plays host to traffic signboards cautioning the motorists intending to enter the western bypass board saying work on the road is in progress.
The rumbler sticks have also been re-done at the junction after it had come to the notice of the PWD, NH officials that motorists were speeding at the traffic junction, resulting in accidents.
Executive Engineer, PWD-NH Dattaprasad Kamat informed that the department has got the traffic junction re-done in view of the rising accidents.
He said the traffic signals have started functioning after the contractor installed a new inverter with batteries, after they were stolen by miscreants. “We have secured the inverter and the batteries to keep miscreants at bay and ensure that the traffic signals does not stop functioning”, he said.
Pointing out that motorists were speeding at the traffic junction, he said the rumbler sticks have been redone to regulate the speed at the junction.
Given that confusion prevails amongst outstation motorists when they reach the junction, connected to the western bypass, the PWD has now installed a board pointing out that work on the project is under progress. “When outstation motorists reached the junction, they get confused whether to take the western bypass to head to Panjim when the bypass is not complete yet. To avoid the confusion, the board has been installed for the benefit of the outstation motorists that they continue the journey on the existing road”, another officer pointed out.
Last week, Navelim villagers along with the local MLA Ulhas Tuemkar had descended at the site for an inspection after the locals threatened to uproot the traffic signal poles if the authorities do not operate the traffic signals.
MLA Tuemkar later told the PWD officials to initiate measures so that the traffic signals resume functioning and help reduce the accidents at the junction.
