PROTEST MORCHA AT PANJIM AGAINST NH4 & NH17 EXPANSION IN GOA

PANJIM: The morcha blocking Mandovi Bridge resulted in long traffic snarls leaving the common man on street caught in a traffic jam.  The chaos prevailed near Kadamba bus stand as the protestors under banner of National Highway Diversion Action Committee blocked Old Mandovi Bridge for over two hours as a part of the demonstration.

The morcha began at Azad Maidan at about 3pm from where the protestors marched to the KTC bus stand and were stopped at Old Mandovi Bridge.  A huge force of policemen, drawn from different North Goa police stations were deployed along the route right from the starting point till the secretariat at Porvorim.

Members of a civic society group in Goa called the National Highway Diversion Action Committee had given a call for the mass protest stating that the NH4 and NH17 expansions in Goa are against the provisions in the Regional Plan 2021.

Although the demonstrations went on peaceful, the common man on the street was at the receiving end. The blockage after the office hours created more confusion. Long queues of vehicles were seen from the city till O Coqueiro circle at Porvorim.

In lieu of the protest morcha Section 144 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) was imposed in the city which prohibits assembly of people in groups. Despite this a large crowd gathered at the Azad Maidan. The morcha which started off from here was stopped by the police at Mandovi Bridge. Following this large number of agitators assembled for huge rally near bus stand.

“The prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC has been enforced within 500 meters around the Secretariat complex at Porvorim and area under Panjim police station for 12 hours between 12noon to12-midnight,” the order copy read.

The state BJP also extended its support to the protest of the National Highway Diversion Action Committee. Social Activist Dr Oscar Rebello, BJP MP Shripad Naik and others addressed the rally.