Following demands, PWD to construct underpass near Safa Masjid junction

Ponda: Three years after locals of Shapur and Chirputem in Bandora village protested demanding an underpass near Safa Masjid at Shapur, the national highway division of the public works department (PWD) has planned to take up the project.

PWD will take up the construction work along with the pending approach road of Khandepar bridge. It will also undertake construction of a small road stretch at Kerye, Khandepar.

Shapur is located on the outskirts of Ponda town.

PWD has completed widening works of the Goa-Karnataka national highway from Par-Khandepar to Shapur-Ponda. However, it has failed to make suitable arrangements for people residing in Shapur and Chirputem.

Citizens are forced to travel up to Farmagudi circle to proceed towards Shapur and Chirputem.

Since the travel arrangement by PWD was not feasible, over 200 villagers from these two areas had agitated on July 7, 2019 demanding an underpass near Safa Masjid at Shapur.

The junction opposite Safa Masjid has turned chaotic for motorists as vehicles travelling from Ponda town to Farmagudi, Bandora, KTC bus stand and vice-versa converge at this point, while pedestrians have to wait for a considerable time to cross the junction owing to heavy traffic.

Considering the demand, PWD has now decided to construct the underpass a little away near KTC bus stand.

A source from PWD has said that a proposal in this regard has already been sent to the Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH), and the ministry has approved the project and are awaiting fund allocation.

“We have estimated an expenditure of Rs 80 crore, wherein we will construct the underpass, an approach road to Khandepar bridge and the small stretch of road at Kerye,” he said.


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