The one-and-a-half-kilometre stretch from Nagoa Junction to Arpora Tinto, part of the Major District Road (MDR), needs proper street lighting to improve road safety. The stretch was fully illuminated around seven years ago with decorative lights installed by the Tourism Department. However, the lights stopped functioning due to lack of maintenance. Solar-powered lights were subsequently installed, but most of them are now either non-functional or provide inadequate illumination. The Goa Electricity Department and the PWD, which share responsibility for street lighting on major district roads, should take immediate steps to restore proper lighting along this stretch. The local panchayat has also passed resolutions regarding streetlights, but regular follow-up is needed to ensure implementation.The road connects Mapusa, Saligao, Calangute and Anjuna and carries heavy local and tourist traffic. Poor visibility, unnoticeable speed breakers, unmarked dividers, blind spots and roadside parking make the unlit sections particularly hazardous. With parts of the road recently widened and modified, replacing the defunct solar lights with reliable LED streetlights is urgently needed for the safety of motorists and pedestrians.
RAJESH BANAULIKAR, Arpora
