NT Reporter
Panaji
Alleging lack of planning in the recently inaugurated Porvorim six-lane elevated flyover, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Saturday demanded an FIR to be registered while the Aldona Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira demanded arrest of those responsible, including the urban road planning, engineering or road design experts associated with the project.
Ferreira also demanded that additional money, which will be spent on corrective measures following the assessment of the corridor by an expert team from IIM-Nagpur, be recovered from those who are at fault.
The flyover was opened for vehicular traffic on September 11 and on the following day, a fatal accident near the exit/entry point of the flyover near the Hotel Neo Majestic in Porvorim claimed two lives. This followed a decision prohibiting two-wheelers from using the corridor and the entry and exit points near the hotel were closed. “Crores of rupees have been spent…you have to take the responsibility of deaths. FIR has to be registered. It is an unplanned development. It is shocking that the local MLA is saying that he was not taken into confidence. People from Porvorim have been troubled for years,” said Alemao, reacting to media queries at the Congress House in the city. He further said, “It is a commission racket and inaugurating such type of a flyover, is shocking and shameful”.
Ferreira said he had pointed out how the entry and exit points are a death trap. He said that “it is a flawed planning and those responsible should be put behind bars.”
Raising questions over a statement made by the local MLA and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, Ferreira said, “You said it was a dream come true (during an interview following the inauguration of the flyover) and now what do you mean by ‘not consulted’. One cannot wash off hands.”
He said that “the government will now have to spend more money on the corrective measures. The additional money spent should be recovered from those who are responsible for the issue”. He suggested that the government utilise the land near the hotel, used as a parking space, to address the existing concerns.
