Panaji: The closure of the entry and exit points of the Porvorim six-lane elevated corridor on the Hotel Neo Majestic side has left residents unable to use the infrastructure built for their convenience, while traffic congestion is already building up on the service roads. Residents fear the situation will worsen next week when schools and offices reopen after the Ganesh Chaturthi holidays and traffic volumes rise sharply.The entry and exit points were shut last week following an accident in which two people were killed. The move has particularly frustrated Porvorim residents, who say they endured years of construction-related disruptions only to find themselves unable to access the elevated corridor once it opened.“The irony is that Porvorim residents suffered all through the construction, the roads were blocked, cars were going through winded diversions. Now that the bridge is ready, Porvorim residents cannot use any section of the bridge. If you reside at Mapusa and want to go to the Secretariat, one using the bridge has to go right up to Merces circle and travel back to Porvorim. Porvorim residents going to GMC or Margao have to use the old Mandovi bridge which is crowded,” said Juino De Souza, a Porvorim resident.He said interstate buses arriving from Panaji also have to use the narrow service roads to pick up passengers, adding to the congestion.The PWD had earlier estimated that 70% to 80% of vehicles would use the elevated corridor. However, the ban on two-wheelers and the closure of the Porvorim-side entry and exit points mean a significant volume of traffic continues to use the service roads.Residents are now questioning how the roads will cope once normal traffic resumes next week.A PWD official said a review meeting on the traffic plan is scheduled for next week, though the date has not yet been finalised.“Due to the festivities, based on the availability of those involved, a meeting will take place next week. The date is yet to be set. The contractor, who is also looking after the bridge maintenance, the project consultant, PWD, and others will hold a joint meeting and set up a new traffic plan. We are installing AI cameras. Any change in traffic plan can only be affected after that, as the cameras are crucial to the plan to deter speeding,” the official said.Porvorim residents have also questioned the decision to keep two-wheelers off the elevated corridor, arguing that they too should be allowed to use the public infrastructure safely.“Are we not taxpayers? Why should we be debarred from using public infrastructure? To protect some commercial interests, govt has not created ramps along the approach roads to the new elevated corridor as it has been done in the case of the new Zuari bridge. Such a ramp would have allowed safe entry and exit from the flyover,” said a Porvorim resident.
