Team Goemkarponn
DABOLIM: Residents of Dabolim on Tuesday evening strongly objected to a proposed six-month diversion of traffic through narrow internal roads to facilitate ongoing works on the Dabolim Flyover project. The diversion, notified recently by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), triggered protests from locals who later approached the South Goa Collector seeking urgent intervention.
Following their complaint, the South Goa Collector directed a joint site inspection, which was subsequently held at Dabolim by Mormugao Dy Collector Bhagwant Karmali, Mamlatdar Pranvijay Pandit, officials of NHAI, Traffic DySP South, Vasco PI Alvito Rodrigues, RTO officials and a large group of residents. The authorities walked the entire stretch of internal lanes along with the locals and heard their concerns on safety and congestion.
Dy Collector Karmali told reporters that all factors would be assessed before a detailed report is submitted to the South Goa Collector. “A few days ago, the National Highway Authority of India issued a notification for a proposed road diversion at Dabolim to facilitate the flyover works. After the notification, some locals made a representation to the Collector South against the diversion. Following this, I was directed to conduct a site inspection along with other authorities and the PWD department,” he said.
He added, “The objection is primarily about safety concerns linked to traffic movement through narrow, congested residential lanes. This diversion was proposed for six months and only for one-way movement of light vehicles since heavy vehicles are already diverted via the Chicalim road near the airport. We have not yet finalised anything regarding taxis, but we will suggest diverting taxis and rent-a-cars through the Chicalim route as well.”
Residents, however, insisted that the diversion was completely impractical and posed a serious risk. Resident Mayur Desai said that even basic daily movement would become impossible. “People will not even be able to take their cars out of their houses, and the situation will be far worse during medical emergencies because ambulances will struggle to enter these lanes in time,” he said.
Desai added that the diversion would bring an unmanageable rush of vehicles. “We already see buses speeding through these narrow roads. Every flight landing at Dabolim brings at least 100 taxis, and they will certainly use this shortcut to save time. At peak hours, we could be looking at nearly 300 vehicles an hour. Our only request is for a logical solution,” he said.
He also criticised NHAI for implementing the plan without consulting the residents. “The biggest issue is that the diversion was proposed without taking the people into confidence. No one knew about it; they simply arrived and installed diversion boards. NHAI should have consulted residents before planning such a major traffic movement,” Desai said.
Expressing appreciation for the prompt response of the authorities, Desai added, “We are grateful that all departments responded immediately and came for a site inspection. They have seen the situation firsthand and assured us they will submit a factual report. Moving such a high volume of vehicles through our colony is not possible and is dangerous, especially with so many senior citizens living here. We might have understood if this was for a few days or a week, but six months is far too long.”
Authorities are now expected to compile their findings and submit recommendations to the South Goa Collector, following which a final decision on the road diversion will be taken.
