Curti flyover to worsen commuting woes of Shapur\, Chirpute residents

Curti flyover to worsen commuting woes of Shapur, Chirpute residents

July 4, 2019 Goa News 23 Views

NT NETWORK

Ponda

After the opening of the new flyover along the Ponda-Belgaum national highway on the Curti bypass road, residents of Shapur and Chirpute villages will be forced to travel almost 2 km more to reach their villages while returning from Ponda. 

PWD has decided to restrict the entry (opposite Safa Masjid) for the Shapur, Chirpute and KTC bus stand-bound vehicles through the national highway and so commuters arriving from Ponda will have to take a roundabout at Farmagudi near GVM’s College to reach their destinations. In protest, the Shapur residents have decided to stage agitation against the PWD on Sunday.

The much-awaited flyover on the Curti bypass stretch of Ponda-Belgaum highway is nearing completion. Shapur and Chirpute residents have come to know that their access from the main highway will be blocked by the PWD after the flyover is thrown open. 

Local panch member Rajesh Naik said that thousands of people commute daily on the stretch of road and with the KTC bus stand being a main spot, almost all passenger buses use the route adding, “PWD should have considered construction of underpass at the junction or made some other provision. But it has only made temporary arrangement by making an opening to the road divider.”

Once the flyover is thrown open for public, commuters bound for Shapur, Chirpute and Ponda KTC bus stand will be blocked at the Shapur junction and people will be forced to travel to Farmagudi, take roundabout near GVM’s College and then return back to Farmagudi via KTC bus stand road from the other side.

“This will automatically increase the traffic flow at Farmagudi circle, which is common roundabout for Dhavali bypass road of Margao highway. It will lead to more traffic congestion making commuting more risky and more accidents will occur,” said Naik.

Considering the hardships forced on to the locals by the PWD, villagers have decided to agitate against PWD on Sunday, Naik said.

According to sources, with the Safa Masjid being a heritage site at Shapur along the highway, PWD has not considered having an underpass at the point as it was not allowed. Hence, no provision was made for traffic proceeding towards the KTC bus stand from Ponda.