In an accident that took place at the dreaded Chimbel junction on Friday, a 59-year-old man, a resident of Chimbel, who was returning home on his bicycle and was crossing the bypass road, was reportedly fatally knocked down by a Kadamba bus which was traveling towards Old Goa. The busy Chimbel junction along the Panaji-Old Goa bypass road has turned into a death trap for unsuspecting motorists. The vehicular traffic coming out of the Chimbel road needs to be overcautious. It may be recalled that in the past, several accidents have taken place on the road probably due to wrong road geometry. In the month of May this year, a 72-year-old man was knocked down and killed by a truck at this dangerous junction. After the accident about hundred citizens gathered at the spot and blocked the road in protest against the death of the elderly person. The Old Goa bypass road was constructed in 2004 and expanded in 2014. There is a total traffic chaos at the junction as there is a heavy flow of vehicles which poses danger to the road users as well as the residents of the locality who have to cross the road here. Poor road engineering could be one of the reasons for the frequent occurrence of accidents at this junction. The authorities concerned need to take all necessary steps in order to see that the accident-prone spot is made safe for the citizens.
