A heavily loaded truck which broke down on the temporary diversion near the new bridge under-construction across the Malaprabha River at Kusmalli on the Belagavi-Goa Road via Chorla has hampered traffic and has posed a safety hazard since Wednesday.
Not heeding the warnings, the truck owner has not initiated any efforts till Saturday to remove or repair the vehicle.
The truck reportedly developed a mechanical fault while passing through the narrow mud diversion and was subsequently abandoned at the spot. Though the matter was brought to the notice of authorities and the vehicle owner, no concrete action has been taken to remove the stranded truck so far. As a result, traffic movement on the diversion has been partially obstructed, forcing vehicles to navigate through a risky and congested stretch.
The situation is particularly alarming as authorities from both Goa and Belagavi had earlier imposed a ban on the movement of heavy and multi-axle vehicles via the Chorla Ghat route. Despite the restriction, several truck operators continue to flout the orders, endangering commuters and causing frequent traffic snarls. Motorists, especially two-wheeler riders and small vehicle users, have expressed concern over the lack of enforcement.
Sources allege that while the violations continue unabated, enforcement agencies appear to be turning a blind eye, allowing truckers to defy official directives with impunity.
When contacted, a senior officer attached to the Karnataka NHAI-PWD stated that the truck owner had been warned to immediately remove the vehicle or face strict action.
However, the warning seems to have had little effect, as the truck continues to block traffic, compounding the inconvenience and raising serious questions about accountability and road safety enforcement.
