Goenkarponn desk
Ponda: Locals including Parents, and students heave a sigh of relief as Authorities diverted the NH heavy traffic plying at accident-prone OPA Khandepar Junction on Monday onwards through the Service roads of New Khandepar bridge.
Due to traffic plying through OPA Junction, the students waiting to pick up the bus after school hours were facing the risk of accidents due to heavy traffic, which is now diverted through service roads alongside the bridge.
For the past four years, there was chaos and horrific accidents at OPA Junction wherein two years ago truck rammed into a hotel and recently seven vehicles collided with each other which spread panic waves among parents on the safety of students at this junction.
The issue was discussed in the stakeholders meeting attended by local MLA and Minister Ravi Naik wherein Sandeep Parkar a local had suggested widening the service roads which could help to divert heavy traffic and prevent the entry of heavy traffic at OPA Junction.
It May be recalled that in 2018 new Khandepar Bridge was inaugurated by the government without an approach to the bridge towards the Ponda side.
As a result after the inauguration, the traffic coming from Belgaum towards Ponda was plying through the service road of the new bridge while the traffic from Ponda towards Belgaum was diverted through the Old bridge as well as through busy OPA Khandepar Junction.
There was no option for NH traffic to proceed through OPA Khandepar Junction as the new bridge was without a ramp/approach road due to the ramp road matter being subjudice
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