3-hours traffic jam sees over 100 flyers miss flight

PANAJI: For flyers out of Goa, Saturday turned out to be a nightmare, as over 100-odd passengers, including 45 people on a single flight from Goa to Delhi, failed to board as they were caught in a three-hour traffic jam in South Goa.
The jam at Cortalim junction-from around 4pm to 7pm-was majorly due to the ongoing construction work of the new Zuari bridge and partly due to the impatience of vehicle drivers, who violated the lanes throwing traffic out of gear on the highway.
"The airline told us that 45 passengers on Indigo's Goa to Delhi flight 6E-6386 that was scheduled to depart at 6.50pm missed the flight," Mohit Gupta told STOI from Goa International Airport.
Several other airlines also reported no-shows because of the gridlocked traffic, but expressed their inability to assist passengers.
People reported that it took them at least three hours to negotiate their otherwise 45-minute journey.
Few flyers had to abandon their journeys as they could not reach the airport in time for check-in.
Priyank Sinha, a tourist from Delhi, who missed his flight, blamed the police for failing to clear the traffic congestion in time.
"It took me two hours to get from Caranzalem to the airport. I almost missed my flight but thankfully that was late too. Unfortunately, all the fun and relaxation of Goa disappeared by the time I reached the airport," said Kunal Sahgal from Gurugram, who was in the state for a conference.
His flight was delayed from 5.30pm to 6.10pm.
"Who is responsible for the loss of money and time? Even airlines are refusing to consider that this was a situation out of control for passengers. My wife and I are here at the airport waiting for next flight," another passenger Sanjay Mudaney said.
Commuters plying on the Margao-Panaji route vented their anger on social media.
Hundreds of bus commuters sweated it out in the hot and humid conditions, with many cursing their fate, while others blamed it on the traffic police who were conspicuous by their absence in certain stretches.