Panaji: Goa police’s traffic cell has urged the PWD to undertake road upgrades to decongest Merces and KTC Panaji junctions, including merging the Bambolim–Panaji service road with the highway and adding adequate directional signages.The inspection of the Merces junction and KTC Panaji junction was conducted by the North Goa District Road Safety Committee (DRSC)’s monitoring cell.“The improvements need to be taken up on priority,” the traffic cell of Goa police said.With regards to the Merces junction, traffic cell said that the Bambolim – Panaji service road should be merged with the main highway after Estrella open hall, so that vehicles proceeding towards Panaji and intending to take the Atal Setu can stick to the left lane and reduce congestion at the Merces junction.“Vehicles taking Bambolim- Panaji service road and intending to proceed to Old Goa or Merces should keep to their right lane well in advance before approaching the Merces junction,” traffic cellThe traffic cell said that the slight curve just after the culmination of Bambolim – Panaji service road near the Merces junction proceeding towards Atal Setu needs to be straightened.“The Merces – Bambolim service road should be merged with the main highway so as to increase the width of the carriageway and facilitate easy maneuvering of vehicles at Merces junction,” traffic cell said.“A slip road needs to be created on Merces road for vehicles coming from Merces side and intending to proceed towards Bambolim. Sufficient number of directional signages should be erected all along the merged roads,” traffic cell said.At the KTC Panaji junction, traffic cell said that a service road should be created between the Atal Setu pillars for easy movement of vehicles coming from Bambolim side and intending to proceed towards EDC Patto.“The present exit of KTC Panaji that is used by the buses for exiting should be shifted 50m prior to the existing exit point i.e. just after the curve of EDC Patto exit road, so as to ensure smooth merger of buses and other vehicles and preventing crisscrossing of vehicles,” the traffic cell said.
