Cortalim Congress Leader Olencio Simoes, Villagers Demand Urgent Rectification of Zuari Bridge Access Roads

Cortalim Congress Leader Olencio Simoes, Villagers Demand Urgent Rectification of Zuari Bridge Access Roads

Cortalim, Goa, May 25, 2025 — Cortalim Congress leader Olencio Simoes and concerned villagers have raised urgent demands for the rectification and re-engineering of the Zuari Cable Bridge access roads, specifically the stretch from Cortalim to the bridge junction and the approach from the Toyota showroom side.

According to Simoes, these critical road sections have unfortunately turned into accident-prone zones, with several incidents reported over the past few months. He emphasized that the current road alignment, poor design, and absence of adequate safety measures are creating life-threatening hazards for commuters and motorists alike.

“The sharp curves, unclear and insufficient signage — especially during the night — make navigation extremely dangerous,” Simoes stated. “With rising vehicular traffic along NH 66, drawing heavy flows from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, the urgency for structural improvements cannot be ignored.”

The villagers, alongside Simoes, are earnestly requesting the Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to:

• Conduct an immediate safety audit of the mentioned stretches.
• Redesign and re-engineer the road layout to enhance visibility and reduce curvature hazards.

Simoes also recalled that Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the first phase of the New Zuari Bridge on 29 December 2022, with the second (southbound) bridge opening on 22 December 2023. Despite these major milestones, the adjoining access roads have lagged in safety upgrades, he noted.

The villagers and local leaders now await swift government intervention to prevent further accidents and ensure the safety of thousands who use the Zuari Bridge daily.

newsbabaonline.com