Zuari accident sparks major jam, students, fliers stranded for 3 hrs
Times of India | 2 days ago | 06-12-2022 | 02:40 am
Times of India
2 days ago | 06-12-2022 | 02:40 am
Panaji: An accident involving a minibus and two cars on Zuari bridge left office-goers, fliers and students stranded in a three-hour long snarl that stretched from Agasaim to Verna. Police struggled to clear the jam on the four-lane national highway, blaming the jump in tourists for the chaos on the roads.While no fatalities were reported, several fliers missed their flights and students missed their classes. The traffic jam also disrupted meetings and schedules for several employees.According to traffic cell police inspector Sailesh Narvekar, the accident occurred at 6.40am and it took a while to get a crane to tow away the damaged vehicles. “Tourist season has started and the number of vehicles has increased. People were going to the office too and that is why there were more vehicles on the route,” said Narvekar. Though police claimed that traffic was stuck for just forty five minutes, commuters and motorists said that they were stuck in the jam for close to three hours.“From Loutolim to Cortalim circle, which is a distance of less than one and a half kilometres, it took me an hour. It was quite frustrating,” said Kimberly Monteiro, who was heading to work. “Many motorists had switched off their engines and were waiting for something to happen. I reached the office around 10am, an hour late and it was quite frustrating and I was tired.”PWD minister Nilesh Cabral was nonchalant, putting the blame on Congress for not building a bridge over the Zuari. Cabral said that traffic jams along the Margao-Panaji route have been happening in the past. “These traffic jams were happening earlier too. I have also suffered in these jams. I am monitoring the situation on a day-to-day basis,” said the minister. He said that once the new Zuari bridge is opened, traffic jams will no longer occur.Opposition leader Yuri Alemao blamed poor traffic management and the haphazard placement of barricades for the snarl. “It is a man-made traffic jam due to government negligence. The mega jam can cost the life of a critical patient if an ambulance carrying a patient gets stuck in a jam. Today, many school children could not reach in time,” he said.December marks Goa’s peak tourism season and the surge in tourists has made traffic jams a daily affair across the state. The jams have a ripple effect on public transport as most Kadamba Transport Corporation buses remain stranded in the traffic.“Waited in line for an hour and a half to get a bus to Panaji. Waited in the same spot for another hour in Cortalim. Got stuck again on the bridge for an hour,” said Shreeya Kudchadkar.Many took to social media to vent their frustration as their Monday plans went for a toss. “Heavy traffic from Vasco and Verna towards Cortalim. On the other side, traffic jam up to Bambolim. I was stuck for two plus hours then returned home to Dabolim,” said Ninad Varadkar.Despite the horrendous start to the workday, motorists and commuters displayed patience and discipline.“What was remarkable was the peace around me. Everyone was resigned to their fate and everybody was patiently waiting. There was no honking, no cutting of lanes and people were moving in a disciplined manner, which I found remarkable. I think people are getting used to inconvenience,” said Shreyas Kamat, who missed out on a crucial meeting despite leaving Margao around 8am.Traffic jams have become a common occurrence across the state. Porvorim also witnessed a massive traffic jam around 12pm leaving vehicles backed up right to the Holy Family Church. On the Ponda-Margao route, traffic jams are seen around the Borim bridge, with even former BJP MP Narendra Sawaikar taking to Twitter to complain.“Immediate solution has to be found for smooth flow of traffic from Baithekhol to Borim bridge, particularly at Top Cola junction,” said Sawaikar. “After, Verna-Agasaim this is yet another area of congestion. While infrastructure is a long term solution, police intervention to regulate the traffic is the immediate solution.”
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