the goan I network
VASCO
It appears that visits by union ministers turn out to be an unexpected boon for motorists along the Cortalim Circle, Agassaim bypass and Bambolim stretch of the highway.
After having to travel for weeks along the Agassaim bypass without street lights, motorists were in for a pleasant surprise to find the bypass brightly illuminated with street lights on Saturday.
Most motorists contacted by The Goan firmly believed that the brightly illuminated Agassaim bypass was primarily on account of Union Railway Minister Piyush Goel’s visit to Goa on Saturday.
Speaking to The Goan, motorists said the stretch of road between Cortalim Circle Agassaim bypass and Bambolim Cross had been in complete darkness for several weeks, with none of the street lights illuminating the area.
“The highway along that stretch is usually pitch dark and the traffic diversion boards, temporary barrels with arrow stickers and other traffic signs virtually invisible to motorists,” said a motorist.
“To make matters worse, ongoing Zuari bridge works and heavy traffic had made the dark stretch of the highway a nightmare for motorists and pedestrians alike. A few accidents were also reported along this stretch.”
However on Saturday evening, motorists were pleasantly surprised to find the entire stretch well illuminated and there was no traffic jam at the Cortalim Circle, which had been a regular occurrence for months.
It may be recalled that in a similar visit by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman in Goa during the GST Council meet had led to similar arrangements where the traffic movement was perfect and there was no traffic jam.
“Union ministers should make more frequent visits to Goa, to ensure that traffic management and infrastructure is top class. Government agencies portray a great picture in Goa only when we have VIPs,” remarked a motorist Anant Prabhu.
Added another motorist Namita Prabhugaonkar: “Even during the BRICS summit in Goa, street lights and road dividers were made available in quick time, only to be non functional after the event was over.”
“Infrastructure made for people of Goa should be available all the time and not only when national leaders arrive in the State,” said Prabhugaonkar.
Anita Pai, another frequent motorist along the Bambolim-Cortalim stretch of the highway also wondered if motorists had to wait for only visits by national leaders to ensure better road infrastructure.
“Government agencies often have double standards by ignoring their own people and laying a red carpet when national leaders arrive in Goa” said Pai.
