“This is not the first time Goa has seen haphazard management during infrastructure work. Each project seems to begin with lofty claims of minimal inconvenience, only for commuters to be left stranded for months. What makes Porvorim’s situation particularly concerning is that this is not a remote bypass but a vital link between North Goa and the state capital. The stretch between Coqueiro Circle and the Shivaji statue is used by thousands of vehicles daily, including office-goers, school buses, intercity travelers, and tourists. Shutting down or diverting traffic here without a rock-solid plan is not just inefficient, it is irresponsible.”
Traffic in Porvorim has turned into a daily ordeal. On Monday, the Public Works Department carried out what it called a trial diversion on National Highway 66, as part of preparations for the construction of the elevated corridor. The test run was supposed to help the department assess how traffic could be managed once the main work began. Instead, it created chaos. Vehicles crawled for hours, tempers flared, and residents found themselves trapped in long, exhausting jams. What was meant to be a controlled trial felt more like a punishment for commuters.
The chaos revealed what many have feared for months — that the authorities are venturing into a massive infrastructure project without a credible, comprehensive plan to manage traffic. The idea of closing down stretches of one of Goa’s busiest corridors without first ensuring smooth alternatives is a recipe for misery. A diversion plan cannot be improvised on the road while people suffer. It needs careful design, advanced preparation, and coordination between multiple agencies.
What happened in Porvorim was the opposite: confusion, poor signage, and roads that were never meant to bear such volume.
During the trial, heavy vehicles headed for Panaji were diverted through Karaswada and Bicholim, while others were pushed into the Old Goa–Sankhalim–Assonora–Tivim route.
Lighter vehicles were told to move through Socorro, Sangolda and Guirim. Anyone familiar with these stretches knows that these are narrow, residential roads that already struggle with local traffic.
Pushing hundreds of additional vehicles through them was bound to cause gridlock. The PWD’s own assessment later admitted that congestion and long snarls occurred, yet the department appeared more interested in proving that a diversion could be attempted than in proving that it could work.
This is not the first time Goa has seen haphazard management during infrastructure work. Each project seems to begin with lofty claims of minimal inconvenience, only for commuters to be left stranded for months. What makes Porvorim’s situation particularly concerning is that this is not a remote bypass but a vital link between North Goa and the state capital. The stretch between Coqueiro Circle and the Shivaji statue is used by thousands of vehicles daily, including office-goers, school buses, intercity travelers, and tourists. Shutting down or diverting traffic here without a rock-solid plan is not just inefficient, it is irresponsible.
The government must understand that traffic management is not about barricades and diversions alone. It requires data, design, and discipline. Roads cannot be closed piecemeal with the hope that traffic will find its own way around. Alternate routes must be prepared in advance, not just identified on paper. Widening, resurfacing, and signage should be completed before diversions begin. Traffic police need real-time monitoring tools, communication systems, and authority to enforce discipline. Technology can help too — sensors, signal synchronisation, and public information systems can make a difference if used intelligently.
What is needed now is a complete rethinking of the diversion plan. Heavy vehicles should be kept out of Porvorim altogether and given a proper bypass route that avoids residential areas. Light vehicles can be routed through CHOGM Road and Sangolda or Guirim, but only after ensuring these roads are ready for increased volume. Each intersection must be equipped with proper signals, and marshals should be stationed at key junctions to guide drivers. Service roads should be kept open for local access and deliveries, but through-traffic should be regulated to prevent bottlenecks. Importantly, closures should happen in phases so that traffic can be studied and adjusted before the next segment is shut.
The government cannot treat Porvorim’s commuters as test subjects in a grand experiment. Every wasted hour on the road translates into lost productivity, fuel, and peace of mind. Businesses along the route are already suffering as customers avoid the area. Emergency vehicles are struggling to get through. When a plan causes this much disruption during its trial, it signals that the groundwork is incomplete. Instead of pushing ahead blindly, the PWD must halt full closures until a proven, detailed, and publicly shared diversion plan is ready.
Infrastructure development is necessary, but it must not come at the cost of everyday life grinding to a halt. The Porvorim corridor will eventually ease travel between Mapusa and Panaji, but until then, people deserve a traffic system that works. The chaos of the past week should serve as a wake-up call. Goa deserves better planning, better communication, and above all, respect for the time and patience of its citizens.
