Team Goemkarponn
PORVORIM: Tourism Minister and Porvorim MLA Rohan A. Khaunte has written to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant seeking urgent intervention to address access-related difficulties and road safety concerns faced by residents following the development of the Atal Setu and the Porvorim six-lane elevated corridor.
In his letter, Khaunte has called for improved entry and exit points to the bridge, installation of traffic signals at a key junction, restoration of roads beneath the flyover and stronger enforcement measures to ensure smoother traffic movement and safer commuting for residents.
While acknowledging that the new infrastructure is intended to ease congestion along the Panaji–Mapusa corridor, Khaunte stressed that it must also provide convenient connectivity to local residents and address the challenges arising from changes to existing road access.
The letter follows a high-level meeting held at Mantralaya on September 21, attended by the Chief Minister, PWD Minister Digambar Kamat, Deputy Speaker Joshua D’Souza and senior officials from the concerned departments. While acknowledging the directions issued during the meeting, Khaunte has highlighted several issues that he believes require priority attention and follow-up.
A key demand is to provide convenient access to the Atal Setu for Porvorim residents, including suitable entry points and an exit into Porvorim near the Majestic Hotel junction. According to the letter, residents should not be forced to take long or circuitous routes to access the bridge or travel towards Mapusa and other destinations.
Khaunte has also sought the installation of a functional traffic signal at the junction where vehicles descending from the Porvorim flyover merge with local traffic and vehicles heading towards the Atal Setu ascend onto the bridge. The junction requires improved traffic regulation to facilitate smoother movement and reduce potential road safety risks.
Another demand is to expedite the procurement of additional land belonging to the local comunidade near the Neo Majestic Hotel to facilitate the widening of a bottleneck along the six-lane corridor.
The letter also calls for the repair and resurfacing of junction roads beneath the elevated flyover, along with the installation of rumble strips at appropriate intersections to regulate vehicle speeds.
On road safety and enforcement, Khaunte has called for prominent signage warning two-wheeler riders against using the Atal Setu, in keeping with existing restrictions. He has further proposed installing reflective illumination strips on structural barricades to improve visibility at night.
Additionally, he has suggested deploying AI-enabled surveillance and speed-detection cameras to strengthen enforcement, monitor traffic movement and detect violations.
Khaunte has urged the Chief Minister and the concerned departments to take up these measures on priority, stating that the benefits of major infrastructure projects must be matched by safe access, efficient traffic management and improved connectivity for residents of Porvorim.
