Work on existing Porvorim highway traps residents inside own homes

Panaji: Residents of the Town Planning Colony, Porvorim, near Neo Majestic Hotel residing along the national highway (NH 66) are irked after being trapped inside their own homes due to the ongoing construction for the six-lane Porvorim flyover.

PWD’s national highway division shut down a section of NH 66 between Neo Majestic Hotel and Gauri Petrol Pump (RHS) till May 20 for construction of the flyover, but local residents said they were not informed that access would be blocked or that debris would be dumped in front of their homes. “The work is for the six-lane flyover. The elevator ramp is being built. The mud has been dumped for the project. It will be cleared in some days,” said principal chief engineer Sandip Chodnekar.

At least five homes, including the Brahmakumari residence at Porvorim, have been cut off from the main road. Given that there are senior citizens residing in the area, concern about accessibility is heightened.

“This wanton destruction of a perfectly good highway begs the question of whether govt actually plans their so-called development projects or just wants to create confusion everywhere. The senseless addition of a massive layer to an existing road in a residential area will cause untold hardships to residents and their health, but of course govt has neither thought about it nor does it care,” said Justice Nelson Britto (retd).

Another local resident who works the night shift said that emergency vehicles will find it difficult to reach homes as all access has been blocked. He said that work continues unabated at night, creating a lot of disturbance, making it difficult for senior citizens to sleep.

The contractor for the project began dumping debris on Thursday after shutting down the road.

“It’s a very bad situation for the people because they have not notified us properly and put proper signage. We don’t know which lane to use and which direction to go. Overnight, the existing road is being excavated and mud is being dumped. The height of the new road that is being made, people are worried that during the monsoons the water will come into their compound or homes,” said Oswald Pinto, a local resident.

While residents said that prior notice would have made it easier to plan their grocery runs, some said that they have come to terms with the inconvenience.

“We asked the engineer for information and asked them to clear up some part of the road so that we can leave our homes. This is a big project and there is no point in opposing as this project has to be completed fast,” said a woman from the area.
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