Goemkapronn desk
KERI (SAKHALIM): Every week, thousands of Goan vehicles visit the neighbouring town of Belagavi for shopping, be it for weddings or any other function but off late, the 115 km journey via Chorla Ghat has become tiresome due to bad road conditions.
After teh Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant, said last week that he had taken up the issue with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai, Team Goemkarponn reached ground zero to know the exact position of the road.
It was seen that the road after the Goa boundary on Chorla Ghat has become terrible, with potholes measuring at least a foot deep and meters wide.
Many Goan vehicles plying on this road are stuck due to breakdowns.
Due to the thick forest shade and road bands, the potholes have become invisible in most places, especially on the curves.
Even more shocking was that despite the road condition, the heavy vehicles were seen moving on Ghat without any issues.
It may be recalled that the North District Collector had issued an order prohibiting entry and plying of Heavy Commercial Vehicles (Multi Axle Vehicles) from the routes Dattawadi, Sankhali junction to the end of Goa State border on the Goa-Belagavi State Highway No. 1 on the Chorla Ghat, from (PHC) Sankhali junction to end of the Goa State border On State Highway No. 1 on Chorla Ghat and from Honda junction to end of the Goa State border on State Highway No.1 on Chorla Ghat, for the period up to March 19, 2023, except between 10.00 p.m. to 5.00 a.m.
But the situation at Keri check post was different. Vehicles were allowed to pass from the road without any issues.
Speaking to some of the commuters said it was shocking to see the condition of the road and also the DM’s order on heavy vehicles had been thrown into the dustbin.
“The heavily loaded vehicles are causing more damage to the road, and the authorities are just mum. The DM’s order is just on paper,” said one commuter, Yeshwant naik, who was travelling from Belagavi to Goa on Wednesday.
Another commuter said that the road is really bad, and for small vehicles, Sedans, and Hatchbacks, it is impossible to cross without breakdown.
“At least SUVs can pass through, but for small vehicles, it is a break-bone journey,” said one Suhas Morajkar from Mandrem.
CM says he spoke to Karnataka CM
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that he has taken up the bad condition Goa-Belagavi road issue withKaranatak CM Basavaraj Bomai, who has assured repairs.
Sawant said the road up to the Goa border is good, but thereafter, it is unmotorable.
“After one enters the Karnataka side of the border, the road is unmotorable. I have taken up the matter with the Karnataka Chief Minister over the repair of the road on the Karnataka side”, he said, adding that once the repair work is undertaken by the Karnataka government, the Centre will take up the four-laning of the road.
