Centre approves underpass near Safa Masjid in Ponda

Ponda: Repeated demands by locals of Shapur and Chirputem in Bandora for an underpass near the Safa Masjid at Shapur have finally borne fruit after three years. The Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) gave its approval for the project on Friday and the national highways division of the PWD is likely to begin the tendering process within a month.
The underpass will be constructed at a little distance from the masjid, nearer to the KTC bus stand.
The locals of Shapur and Chirputem — pedestrians and motorists — find it difficult to cross the busy junction opposite the masjid. Motorists are forced to drive up to the Farmagudi circle and come back to reach their village, while pedestrians have to wait for long to cross. In July last year, over 200 people from Shapur and Chirputem had held a protest demanding an underpass near the masjid.
The PWD division will take up the work along with the pending approach road of the Khandepar bridge and another small stretch at Kerye Khandepar that is pending widening. A PWD official said that the Union transport ministry has sanctioned Rs 135 crore for completing pending works.