Authorities to enhance speed regulation on service roads on newly opened western bypass, but Benaulim MLA criticises lack of long-term planning
The accident-prone service roads at Tolleaband-Benaulim underpass and the western bypass.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Following an outcry over the spate of road accidents on the service roads of the recently commissioned Margao western bypass at Benaulim, the authorities have called for a host of temporary measures, including erecting barricades to regulate the speed of vehicles near the blind turns and increasing the rumbler sticks, etc.
The service roads near the road underpasses at Tolleaband and Mercado Mall were inspected by authorities, including DySP, Traffic Rajendra Prabhudesai, officials of the PWD, representatives of the contractor, and the local Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas.
The team inspected the flow of traffic and the possible causes of accidents near the underpasses due to a lack of traffic regulation. They saw for themselves how vehicles ply on the service roads at high speed and how the rumbler sticks have proved ineffective in regulating speed.
The team underscored the need to implement urgent measures to regulate the speed of vehicles on the service roads, given that the Tolleaband road, as well as the Khareband-Varca road, are busy roads playing host to the entire traffic on the Margao-Cavelossim road.
After the inspection, DySP, Traffic Rajendra Prabhudesai told the media that it had been decided by the team to put in place temporary measures on priority to regulate the speed of vehicles. “The spate of accidents on the service road is a result of certain deficiencies which will be addressed on a war footing. We have come across blind turns at the underpasses. To avoid the blind turns, it has been decided to set up barricades to act as a small traffic island,” DySP Prabhudesai said.
He added: “Besides, the rumbler sticks have proved ineffective in controlling and regulating speed. No doubt, rumbler sticks have been erected on the service roads, but they seem not thick enough to regulate the speed. Similarly, the rumbler sticks have been erected a little away from the underpass. It has been suggested at today’s inspection to increase the thickness of the rumbler sticks and to extend the sticks right up to the underpass to prevent motorists from speeding after crossing the rumblers.”
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas has cried foul over the spate of accidents on the service roads, attributing the same to the government's lack of seriousness in mitigating the hardships faced by the people. He lamented that there’s absolutely no planning from the authorities to factor in the accidents that would occur due to the lack of measures. “After having inherited the western bypass after my election in 2022, I raised the issue in the Goa Legislative Assembly with a plea to take urgent measures, but in vain,” he said.
He added: “The people of Benaulim had demanded the construction of the western bypass on stilts passing through the village. Leave alone the bypass on stilts, the authorities have not even bothered to put the traffic control measures in place.”
Blaming the previous dispensation for the failure to factor in the amount of traffic on the service roads and the resultant accidents, Venzy underscored the need to put in place immediate measures to mitigate the hardships faced by the citizens and motorists.
