Mapusa: Aldona MLA Adv. Carlos Alvares Ferreira on Wednesday held a meeting with the Assistant Engineer of the Public Works Department (National Highways) along with Mapusa Police Inspector (Traffic Cell) Marlon DeSouza to review and finalise traffic diversion modalities to be implemented once work on the Vehicular Underpass at Peddem Junction begins.
The meeting assumes significance in view of long-standing traffic and safety concerns at Peddem Junction, a vital access point for residents of Peddem, Camarcazan and Acoi, which are integral parts of Mapusa town but are divided by the National Highway. Over the years, the junction has witnessed traffic congestion and several close calls, especially during peak hours, affecting access to schools, colleges, hospitals, the Mapusa market and the Peddem stadium.
Speaking on the occasion, Adv. Carlos Alvares Ferreira said that while accidents had occurred before and after the junction, no major accidents were reported at the junction itself, making its closure unviable. He said he had urged the Chief Minister not to proceed with any proposal to close the junction, as it would have severely inconvenienced residents of the surrounding areas.
He recalled that following representations from locals, a meeting was held with the Chief Minister at short notice, after which a permanent solution was recommended to the Centre. On his insistence, the Chief Minister proposed a bypass or grade-separated solution, following which, during a visit to Goa, a delegation met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. This subsequently led to budgetary provision for a flyover at the junction.
As an interim measure, traffic signals were installed at the junction on a trial basis. Adv. Ferreira said he played a key role in initiating the proposal for traffic lights, which have functioned as a temporary arrangement until a permanent solution could be implemented.
He noted that alternative proposals, including diverting traffic via Bastora beneath an underpass, were opposed as they would have caused severe congestion near Milagres Church and the Altinho slope, affecting students, patients and market-goers. He said expecting commuters to take long detours would only have shifted the traffic problem elsewhere in Mapusa.
Providing project details, the MLA said the Centre has floated a tender of approximately Rs 33 crore for the construction of a Vehicular Underpass at Peddem Junction, with completion targeted within 540 days from the date of issuance of the work order. He described the project as a major step towards addressing a demand pending for more than a decade.
Officials at the meeting also discussed alternate routes and traffic diversion plans during the construction phase, including the widening of service lanes and creation of additional provisions to ensure smoother traffic flow and minimise inconvenience to the public.
Appealing for cooperation, Adv. Ferreira said the meeting was convened to ensure traffic diversions are planned well in advance and urged the public to cooperate with authorities during the construction period in the larger interest of long-term traffic management and safety.
The MLA also thanked residents of Peddem, Camarcazan and Acoi for their unity and perseverance, and acknowledged the support of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, PCE Parsekar, then Executive Engineer (NH) Jude Carvalho, now Superintending Engineer, then Assistant Engineer (NH) Dinesh Tare, Engineer Dattaprasad Kamat and the entire PWD team for their role in advancing the project.
