PANAJI
The poorly maintained subway at Bambolim, which has been criticised for its flawed design, has made it difficult for motorists travelling to the Super School Complex in Cujira and the stadium at Bambolim.With three major schools and a higher secondary school at the Cujira Super School Complex, the area witnesses peak traffic in the morning and afternoon, posing a threat to students, parents, teachers and residents in the area.
Access to the Cujira Super School Complex from the Panaji side is through the narrow service road, motorists can either use the poorly maintained subway or use the parallel road which has a bus stop for passengers, which also poses a risk of motorists knocking down passengers waiting to board or alight a bus.
Most motorists proceeding to the Cujira Super School Complex from the Margao side take the new underpass Bambolim, which also witnesses heavy traffic to and from the GMC hospital.
The Bambolim subway is full of large potholes and to make matter worse, frequently gets waterlogged during rains leaving unsuspecting motorists unaware of the potholes.
Parents have been demanding that the government repair the potholes on the subway immediately, before a tragedy takes place at the subway.
There are almost 6,500 students studying at the Cujira Super School Complex and while only classes from Std 7 to 10 are being conducted in a physical/offline mode, traffic problems are expected to surge when all classes resume in schools in the near future.
“It is difficult for children and parents who have to cross the road. The subway road should be repaired immediately,” said a parent, Suraj Madkaikar.
Added another parent, Mukundraj Mudras: “The whole subway road has been dug up. We don't know for what purpose, but it is causing problems for parents to use the road. Some bus operators park their buses inside the subway, which has added to the problem.”
A parent Ashok Shanti said the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights should immediately take cognisance of this problem and intervene in the matter in the interest of safety of students.
According to sources, the traffic department has proposed a one-way route for the subway in a bid to tackle the problem, but nothing has moved so far.
