IRATE DAVORLIM VILLAGERS BLOCK THE EASTERN BYPASS HIGHWAY

MARGAO: Irate villagers of Davorlim blocked the eastern bypass highway near Maruti temple in Davorlim, on Wednesday morning protesting against the failure of the authorities to erect speedbreakers at accident-prone zones along the stretch passing through the village.

Scores of villagers came out on the streets and blocked the road by burning tyres and placing obstacles, thereby paralyzing vehicular traffic along the highway for quite a while.

Police personnel led by Margao PI Santosh Desai and Maina Curtorim PI Sidhant Shirodkar rushed to the site and persuaded the villagers to disperse.

The protestors however were unwilling to budge. The road was finally cleared when the district administrative authorities assured the villagers that the work of constructing the speed breakers would be undertaken within a week.  Sources informed that the local panchayat had written to the district collector asking them to erect speed breakers at certain spots along the highway with the view of reducing traffic accidents.

However, as the authorities failed to take any action, the villagers took to the streets and blocked the highway.  "Traffic has increased drastically along the eastern bypass highway leading to a large number of accidents. The authorities failed to act on our demand. We hope at least now the administration will pay heed to our request," a protestor remarked. (TNN)