PANAJI
As the High Court of Bombay at Goa is hearing into a Public Interest Litigation into the safety aspects around the Porvorim flyover works, petitioner Moses Pinto flagged a series of safety lapses warning of mounting risks to motorists and pedestrians due to construction negligence.
In his submissions on Wednesday, Pinto pointed to non-functional traffic lights that have led to regular traffic snarls and heightened the risk of road accidents. In his suggestion, he urged the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Traffic Police Cell to restore and maintain the signals without delay.
Among the graver concerns were exposed electrical wires lying close to vehicle and pedestrian pathways. Pinto called for urgent rewiring under supervision, with the area to be barricaded until made safe.
He also noted that the construction zone lacked continuous and clearly marked barriers, creating a hazard for road users. He recommended the installation of uninterrupted barricading with high-visibility tape and signage.
The petitioner further highlighted the presence of live wiring combined with poor visibility, posing a dual risk of electrocution and obstruction; and sought reinforced overhead safety wiring as well as immediate placement of warning boards.
The absence of temporary storm drainage was flagged as another lapse, with Pinto suggesting that temporary drains with grating covers be installed before the rains.
Lastly, the petitioner drew attention to dangerous iron rebars scattered along road shoulders, which threaten both tyres and pedestrians. He called for compacting and tarring of loose road sections and the removal or proper stacking of construction materials.
