Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa has called for another joint review involving highway authorities, the project contractor and petitioner Advocate Moses Pinto after fresh concerns were raised regarding commuter safety on the ongoing Porvorim–Guirim elevated corridor project.
The court’s intervention follows the submission of a site assessment report by Pinto, who contended that several safety-related issues continue to persist along the under-construction section of the highway despite ongoing mitigation efforts.
In his plea, the petitioner sought a renewed inspection of the corridor and a detailed discussion among stakeholders to address what he described as unresolved traffic and infrastructure safety concerns affecting daily commuters.
The report identifies a range of issues, including insufficient advance notice for traffic diversions, inadequate safeguards at lane transition points and the close proximity of moving vehicles to active construction operations.
It also points to concerns regarding roadside stockpiling of construction materials, exposed work areas, unfinished shoulders and the absence of adequate protective barriers in certain locations. According to the report, some stretches continue to witness traffic movement near excavation zones and heavy equipment.
With the monsoon season underway, the petitioner has additionally raised concerns about drainage management and exposed earthworks, warning that heavy rains could increase risks for motorists travelling through the construction corridor.
The report notes that riders of two-wheelers may face greater danger due to uneven surfaces, loose debris and abrupt changes in road alignment in certain sections of the project.
Pinto has recommended stronger traffic safety measures, including improved illumination, enhanced signage, reflective guidance systems and better hazard identification to help motorists navigate diversion routes safely.
The inspection findings further suggest that ongoing construction beneath and alongside the elevated structure requires stricter traffic-control mechanisms to minimise interaction between vehicles and work zones.
The High Court has now directed the concerned parties to convene a second joint meeting to review the issues raised and explore additional measures aimed at improving safety for road users while construction progresses on one of Goa’s busiest highway corridors.
