DABOLIM: A motorcyclist was injured after a section of a large advertisement hoarding collapsed onto his bike near Dabolim Airport on Tuesday, raising serious concerns over the safety and maintenance of hoardings along the busy highway.
The rider, Omkar Sawant, was travelling towards the airport when part of the structure suddenly gave way and fell onto his motorcycle. He lost control of the bike and crashed, suffering injuries to his legs, hands and shoulder.
Eyewitnesses said the structure narrowly missed his head. His helmet is believed to have helped prevent what could have been a far more serious injury.
The incident has once again brought the safety of large hoardings installed close to busy roads under scrutiny. Questions are now being raised over whether the structure had the required permissions and whether proper safety and structural inspections were carried out.
Social activist Xankar Polgi has demanded immediate action against those responsible. Polgi claimed he had repeatedly alerted authorities about the condition of the hoardings and had submitted appeals and videos warning of the potential danger.
According to Polgi, concerns had been raised with the concerned panchayat, NHAI Project Director, MLAs and other authorities, but no effective action was taken.
He has now called for an immediate inspection of all large hoardings along the Dabolim highway and demanded that unsafe structures be removed. He also sought accountability from officials responsible for permitting and monitoring such installations.
Locals and motorists have urged authorities to conduct a comprehensive safety audit of hoardings in the area before another incident turns into a major tragedy.
