Massive traffic jams being witnessed due to closure of Atal Setu

Panaji: In order to ease heavy traffic congestion on the roads leading towards the Mandovi bridge, occurring due to the closure of Atal Setu, the north Goa collector Mamu Hage issued an order on Tuesday restricting the movement of heavy and multi-axel vehicles coming from Sawantwadi side towards Panaji on NH66 and from Banastarim side towards Panaji direction from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. until March 27.

Due to the lack of holding spaces along NH66 from Patradevi to Porvorim, the collector ordered that heavy and multi-axel vehicles be stopped at Banda (Maharashtra) and that traffic heading from the Banastarim side towards Panaji be diverted via Banastarim bridge in order to reduce traffic jams.

The order was issued in response to a request from the Superintendent of Police, Traffic, who claimed that since Friday, heavy and multi-axel vehicles have been forced to use the Mandovi bridge due to the closure of Atal Setu, causing traffic congestion on NH66 at Porvorim and Panaji.

According to the traffic police, there is no holding space along NH66 from Patradevi to Porvorim, so heavy vehicular traffic must be limited.

The north district collector had previously announced that the Atal Setu would be closed until March 27 in order to relocate heavy machinery used for mastic cooking and resurfacing work.

The closure was required to ensure commuters’ safety and prevent annoyance from the heavy machinery work.

The collector had asked the contractors to finish the job by March 26 in order to avoid any delays for VIPs and MLAs attending the assembly session, which will begin on March 27.