Goemkarponn Desk
CANACONA – The Underpass beleive the Manohar Parrikar Canacona Bypass Road (MPCBR) at Char-rasta in Canacona kelts as a Pathway for a Biennial religious traditional passage has instead turned into a Hotspot for antisocial elements, restroom for Cattle strays and also threatens the safety concern of school going children, motorists using the Service Road.
On residents demands not to block the traditional pathway used for Biennially held Veeramell of Lord Mallikarjun of Shristhal Temple, an almost over 4 mtrw wife Underpass was facilitated at the time of construction of MPCBR, resulting in appearance of an approximately 50 metres long Tunnel between the fields of Char-rasta and Nagarcem divided by this Expressway.
The tunnel also came to use for the students/children of Nagarcem to take a shortcut to reach their schools located at Char-rasta, while similarly the cattles could easily transverse on either sides fi the elevated MPCBR without a need to walk under the overbridge on the old NH 66 roads section at a distance of 150 mtrs.
Incidentally, Service road (starting Power House) is running parrellel to the elevated MPCBR is diagonally connected to this tunnel type of Underpass.
Residents of the area complaints of serious mishaps to come of the vehicles coming along with One Way traffic on this service road, hitting some Bovines suddenly appearing/running out in the road from this tunnel. ‘ There have been substantial incidents of Bovines deaths, injuries ot motorists particularly two wheeler riders and damages to the vehicle’s. We dear what if suddenly some children going to school or coming from school runs through this tunnel and hit a motorists on the road?. Something bad could happen in such circumstances ‘, informed an Ex -Dy.Chairperson of CMC Dilip Kenkre
Kenkre further alleged that the underpass/tunel at Char-rasta has itself converted into a Mini-Retail Bar and NightOut by some antisocial elements.this Underpass has also become a Makeshift Shed or Cow shelter for the cattles frequenting the surrounding open fields , who reste underneath protecting themselves from he scorhing heat and rains in monsoons. The problem is these Bovines suddenly comes up landing on the road, catching several motorists off guard.’
Infact, following a few mishaps here and the anti-social elements turning it into a Mini-Retail Bar at night time, i had previously complaint to the municipality for suitable action against the anti-social elements and also to put some protection measures in place,’.
Another resident claimed this underpass is kept for Veeramell, now the siss underpass route has also become a Refuge camp for some migrants, and also a hangout for drunkards.’.
‘ with large number of vehicles coming from Margao side on this service road , possibilities of accidents particularly involving school children is very hight and of concern. Only if some sorts of protection or a Gate on both sides of the subway of this underpass could reduce the mishap chances to some extent ‘, said yet another nearby resident Jaideep Gaonkar
