MARGAO
A joint inspection of the road from Fr Agnel Institute Verna to Carmel College Nuvem was conducted by senior highway and police officials on Wednesday following objections raised by the villagers of Nuvem to the road expansion project.
During the inspection, the Highway Authorities were not able to justify the road expansion from Fr Agnel Institute, Verna to Carmel College, Nuvem. In fact, Nuvem villager Everson Vales told the media that the highway authorities were on the back foot as the expansion is not leading to any joining of major road. “During the inspection the villagers have vehemently objected strongly to the expansion project”, he said.
He said the Traffic Department has maintained that the black spots were identified in 2019-20, saying the black spots are now irrelevant since traffic has now been shifted on the western bypass. “The traffic department has promised to compile a report and submit the same to the district Collector”, he added.
The joint inspection was ordered by the South Goa Collector, Asvin Chandru after South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes took up cudgels for the residents of Nuvem regarding the proposed expansion of NH66.
At the meeting, residents had insisted there is no requirement for the expansion of the road from Agnel Institute, Verna to Carmel College, Nuvem since the government has already commissioned the western bypass.
The Executive Engineer, National Highway Division XIV, however, had pointed out that the proposed road expansion is necessary since the traffic department had identified two black spots along the stretch.
