Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA – After inspecting the dangerous Crossing on MPCBR Road at Kolsar, which has resulted in 13 mishaps and two deaths over the period, PWD(NH) agreed to close the same provided people do not need the same anymore.
GPCC General Secretary Janardhan Bhandari, along with other activists, organised a joint inspection after a 13th mishap at the site on Saturday, hospitalised a few for injuries at the Crossing near Matoshree Hotel -Kolsar Galgibaga with various departments including Mamlatdar office, PWD (NH), Police and Traffic.
After agreeing to the arguments put forth by the activists, including there is a continuation of the ‘Divider’ and not any Crossing as shown in the original drawings and deviation from this has led to several mishaps resulting in loss of lives on the Canacona 4-lane Bypass Road, PWD (Highway) Assistant Engineer Gaude said, there are no two thoughts on the closing of the Crossing and restoration of the Divider, provided locals demands for the same. ‘I request a resolution passed by Poiguinim Panchayat on the same, and within a week, we can initiate moves to close the Crossing’, Gaude.
Besides Gaude, PWD(NH) Junior Engineer Nagraj, an Official from the Canacona Mamlatdar office, PSI Ramchandra Naik represented the Canacona police, while another PSI (Traffic) described Canacona Traffic Cell.
Interestingly, during the discussion to place policemen/traffic at the Crossing (which locals alleged was illegal done to please an unknown entity in the area), Canacona PWD(NH) AE Gaude casually mentioned that police or traffic personnel cannot be placed on Curves(Turns)’ and Heights to issue challans, as he had seen on various points while travelling from Margao to Canacona.
When media personnel intercepted, saying Canacona police too illegally hid at steep curves and slopes (heights), neither traffic police nor the police officials responded and remained silent.
