Team Herald
MARGAO: Residents of Nuvem in particular and several other areas in the Salcete taluka are forced to walk and drive along the national highways and Major District Roads in darkness as the streetlights here are not functioning.
This issue has led to a series of accidents and constant complaints to the authorities by the local communities have been in vain. The residents stated that most accidents have occurred here during the monsoon.
The problem is widespread, affecting both national highways and Major District Roads throughout the taluka.
Commuters say that they have tough time navigating these routes after dark, with many struggling to discern oncoming traffic, road dividers, and even the edges of the roads themselves.
“The streetlights are not functioning for several months. Besides posing safety and security issues, we also fear accidents and dread getting out at nights even incase of emergencies,” said
residents and added that the most affected area is the Nuvem bypass road. Local resident David Rodrigues described a nearly 3-kilometer stretch of the Western Bypass that remains in complete darkness every night. “I take my dog for a walk along this stretch and the street lights never function,” Rodrigues said .
“Under the cover of darkness, some individuals take advantage of the situation and illegally dump garbage along the roadsides. People often fling trash bags from moving vehicles, exacerbating the problem. Shady characters and men in drunken stupor also loiter the area at nights posing problems to people who move around here,” Rodriques said.
The absence of streetlights along the Margao-Panjim high-speed route has become a significant safety concern for motorists.”There is no redress on the matter. Motorists often bump into stray cattle after dark,” said locals.
Elsewhere, the coastal villages in Salcete are not immune to this problem. Even in areas dotted with upscale resorts, the lack of illumination raises questions about tourist safety and security.
Local communities have not remained silent on this issue. The matter has been raised at various gram sabhas, and numerous complaints have been filed with the power department. In Benaulim, for instance, a complaint was lodged about non-functional streetlights on the main Maria Hall-Varca road on the very day the Chief Minister’s helpline number was launched.
Residents and commuters alike are calling for swift action to restore proper lighting to Salcete’s roads, emphasizing the critical role it plays in ensuring public safety and curtailing accidents.