SATURDAY, JULY 06, 2024
Team Herald
PONDA: The underpass at Amigos Junction at Curti-Khandepar has become increasingly hazardous for traffic, particularly for bike riders and cars, due to a large trench-like pothole that has developed on the road. The trench has formed due to various factors, including heavy rains, and has caused damage to vehicles as the tires of both two-wheelers and four-wheelers get stuck in it.
Sarpanch Harish Naik, along with National Highway (NH) officials, inspected the site to assess the situation.
Sources said that the road crumbled because it was not properly covered or restored by the contractor from the Goa Electricity Department (GED) after it was dug up for laying power cables. Locals have also noted that water has been accumulating at the underpass for the past few years due to the lack of a proper drainage system, posing a risk to commuters.
When it rains, the underpass essentially turns into a pond because of the inadequate drainage system. The situation was exacerbated on Saturday, by a landslide at Amigos Junction, which caused muddy water to flow into the area, making the underpass slippery and further increasing the risk for commuters. In response, traffic police have barricaded the left-hand side of the underpass with red tape, and traffic heading towards Khandepar is now being diverted via the right side.
