Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA: Distracted driving is considered as one of the most leading causes of road accidents all across the world except on a five km stretch of road that winds it’s way through Karmalghat, the road is itself is in such a mess that accidents on this stretch is no longer a news but a regular feature locals say.
Motor vehicle owners pay thousands of rupees in road tax and expect simple, safe and secure roads but what they have got interms of the Karmalghat on NH66 is one hell of a road where accidents are a regular occurrence locals say.
This road stretch has witnessed on an average one accident per day since last many week, most are self accidents and do not find any mention on the registers of police departments.
For the drivers and the riders this part is nothing less than a nightmare many say.
The PWD has failed in providing a safe road on Karmalghat while police are failing to provide safety to road users locals allege.
When this correspondent asked the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) which has an office in Goa on why this road has not been widened and is left in a mess, a lady who answered the phone call politely informed that the road which is part of the NH66 passing from Margao to Canacona is under the authority of Goa PWD and they are responsible for the upkeep of the road.
Commuters feel that the PWD officials are not taking any interest, forget about widening the road the PWD has failed to even repair the potholes which surface at the slightest fall of rain complained regular commuters.
The PWD has to start taking responsibility and repair this road otherwise it will be disastrous to someone, the road has witnessed many fatal accidents in the past and the innocent commuter should not suffer due to the lack of interest on the part of the PWD said Anil Bhagat a social activist.
Canacona police recently have installed a board informing that from the top of the Karmalghat towards Canacona falls in the jurisdiction of Canacona police while the other opposite half falls in the jurisdiction of Cuncolim police station.
As recently as on Wednesday a truck carrying iron ore from Hospet in Karnataka to Goa lost control while negotiating a sharp curve on Karmalghat and eventually fell on its side.
Luckily the driver and the co-driver escaped with minor injuries but the ore got spilled on the entire road causing lot of inconvenience to the other motorists.
A person at the spot of the accident who identified himself as the driver of the ill fated truck informed that some police personnel came at the site of the accident and told him to remove the truck as a central minister was
supposed to pass by this road next day.
Sources informed that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was supposed to land at Vasco airport and proceed to Karwar Sea Bird, the minister eventually used a chopper for his onward journey.
In order not to face the wrath of the Cuncolim police the driver managed to remove the truck by requsitioning a crane from Margao but the heap of iron ore lay on the road even after 24 hours of the mishap.
Locals as well as regular commuters questioned the role of police in such cases as this is a busy road and thousands of vehicles use this road an a daily basis.
Locals informed that the ore mixed with rain water caused many two wheelers to skid and fall.
A local even went to the extent of advising the police higher ups to send the police field staff for a refresher course as they behave inhumanly most of the times.
“The driver is from Karnataka and in place of assisting him the police who came at the site of the mishap just ordered the driver to remove the truck, they should have assisted him in giving him medical assistance and arranged the necessary equipments” informed another local.
Meanwhile, on Thursday another multi axle truck veered off the road at Barcem.
Inspite of frequent accidents happening on this road the PWD officials seem to be and will wake up only when there is a uproar and the uproar will happen only after someone looses his or her life, till that time the life will go on for the PWD officials, lamented locals and commuters.
