VASCO: In an enforcement drive against traffic violations, the Vasco Traffic Cell officials in last few days have fined around 300 taxis and other vehicles for violating ‘No Entry’ notification along shortcut road leading to Vales Junction at Alto-Dabolim from St Jacinto Island side.
It may be recalled that Herald had highlighted the traffic violations by taxis and other commercial vehicles along the internal road connecting to the NH17-B to NH17-A despite the ‘No Entry’ notification issued by Collector South Goa Swapnil Naik.
According to Vasco Traffic Cell In charge, PI Roy Pereira, soon after Chicalim village authorities installed proper ‘No Entry’ signage along the said internal road (on both sides), he kick-started the enforcement drive on commercial vehicles and taxis by deploying staff during peak hours.
“We have now commenced the enforcement drive along shortcut road leading to Vales Junction from the St Jacinto Island side. Till date we have booked about over 300 cases for violating the ‘No Entry’ notification and most cases were of taxis leading to and from Dabolim airport. Despite facing staff crunch, we have observed that during peak hours the movement of taxis is high and hence we had deployed staff in the area,” Pereira said.
Commenting on the staff shortage, he said that “If I had enough staff, I would have deployed a dedicated team at the spot at least for a month so that taxis stop using this road completely. However, with limited staff strength in whatever possible manner I am trying to manage the show. Under Vasco Traffic Cell we have to handle Vasco town, Cortalim junction, Verna IDC Junction, Fr Agnel Ashram area etc. Just imagine we have overall 23 important points however 28 personnel in hand. So if staff strength is increased we will maintain a vigil on traffic violators in a much better way.”
