Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA: The much-awaited road widening of the accident-prone dangerous sharp-curve at Karmalghat and the narrow Gulem NH-66 road finally began on Wednesday.
The commencement of works costing approximately 4 Crores is done at the hands of local Velips, Ram Velip and Ghatu Velip, in the presence of Canacona MLA and GLA Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and others.
It may be recalled that an accident a day on average at the treacherous and sharp curve on the Karmalghat slope and the narrow Gulem section (with no set-back) of NH-66, some resulting in deaths and others causing heavy damages to vehicles, has caused an uproar of sorts, amongst the residents of Canacona, who virtually went berserk demanding the immediate removal of the bottlenecks at Karmalghat and narrowness of Gulem road.
Following several representations by concerned residents, NGOs, including political parties, Canacona MLA and Speaker, during one of his visits to Delhi, had an audience with Union Road and Transport minister Nitin Gadkari. Gadkari, in an efforts to hasten the works, deputed his OSD for on-site inspection, sanctioned the costs and set the process of tending in motion.
Soon after the inauguration, Speaker Tawadkar informed the actual works would commence on Monday, including the widening of the sharp and dangerous Curve at Karmalghat slope; the 1.2 Kms long road widening works from Gulem to Karmalghat will be completed within 203 months.
CMC Chairperson Ramakant Naikgaunkar, Dy. Chairperson Narscisco Fernandes, Councilors Sara Dessai, Simon Rebello, Laxuman Pagui, BJP Canacona Mandal president Vishal Dessai, Shristhal Panchayat local panch Akshada Velip, Ganesh Gaonkar, Nilesh Gaonkar, and PWD (NH) authorities were present.
Tawadkar stated that the three main hindrances mainly responsible for the accidents would be removed, and the road would be widened by 2 Mtrs each on either side at Gulem; they also declared that the land acquisition and road diversion of the 4-Laning of Canacona to Bendurdem will commence within a year.
