Locals protest against ‘unnecessary’ widening of NH 66 stretch from Varna to Nuvem
Routes: Residents and business owners along NH 66 have raised strong objections to the ongoing widening of the road from Agnel Ashram-Verna to Carmel College-Nuvem, citing the presence of the existing bypass road, which is meant for the National Highway. Is called bypass.
Highway 66.
On Wednesday, citizens gathered at the site and demanded that the above stretch should be de-notified as part of NH 66.
In a letter to the Public Works Department, Kenneth Dias, representing residents, said the project of the Western Bypass was proposed by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and executed by the state PWD to avoid widening of part of the NH. Was done. 66 From Agnel Ashram-Varna to Carmel College-Nuvem. This bypass is already operational and most of the traffic flows through this route.
He further said that there are many educational institutions on this stretch, including Agnel Ashram, Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Holy Rosary Convent, Carmel College, Mae Dos Pobres School, etc. which include primary schools, high schools, higher secondary schools, etc. Schools, as well as professional and graduate colleges. The widening of the road will pose a safety hazard to students and their parents due to increase in high-speed vehicular traffic.
According to residents, the widening of the extension will disrupt the existing power cables, telecom cables, as well as public water pipelines as they are already laid in the part to be covered by the widening of the road.
The four-lane highway is 14.8 to 15.6 meters (each lane 3.7 to 3.9 metres), while the width of NH 66 is expected to be 45 metres. He said that continuing its widening would require the demolition of more residential and commercial structures along the route.
Residents believe this is an unnecessary proposal and needs immediate re-evaluation. “It seems that this is a project that was proposed before the completion of the Western Bypass, and it will be interesting to see how this particular work has been approved despite the existence of the Western Bypass,” he said.
