Confusion reigns as authorities have not de-notified NH66 passing through Margao
The Margao western bypass commissioned last Monday.
MARGAO
Exactly a week has passed since the Margao western bypass was commissioned with fanfare, throwing open the balance 2.75 km Benaulim-Seraulim bypass stretch for vehicular traffic.
Sadly, neither the western bypass has been notified as part of the National Highway 66 nor has the authorities de-notified the existing NH66 passing through the commercial capital.
That’s not all. Though a week has elapsed since Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inaugurated the western bypass in the presence of lone Salcete Minister Alexio Sequeira, and MLAs Digambar Kamat and Vijai Sardesai on Monday last, no sign board has come up at the entry and exit points of the bypass at Navelim or Verna till date.
Plan to divert heavy traffic on the NH66 heading to Ponda from Canacona and vice-versa on the western bypass so as to ease traffic congestion in Navelim is still confined to the papers.
When The Goan called up DySP, Traffic Rajendra Prabhudesai to shed light on the absence of notification, notifying the western bypass as NH66, he said the matter does not fall in the domain of the Traffic police, saying notifications are issued by the district authorities based on proposals received from the departments.
In the instant case, DySP Prabhudesai said the matter falls in the jurisdiction of the PWD, National Highway to get the western bypass notified as NH66.
A senior district Collectorate official echoed similar sentiments by saying it is purely for the National Highway to come out with a notification, notifying the western bypass as the NH66.
When The Goan called up a senior PWD, NH official to shed light on the absence of any notification, notifying the Margao western bypass as the NH66, he conceded that the bypass has not been notified as the National Highway. He, however, hastened to add that the PWD, NH has set in motion the process to notify the Western bypass as NH66 and also de-notify the existing highway passing through Margao city.
