PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Secretary (Transport) to submit affidavit on the traffic congestion in capital city particularly near Captain of Ports along the Dayanand Bandodkar Road before July 14.
The High Court while hearing the suo motu writ petition in the matter of Panjim traffic plan appointed Secretary (Transport) as the nodal officer and asked him to submit his say on the traffic congestion through an affidavit.
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The High Court had already issued notices to Captain of Ports, Department of Tourism, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd, PWD, Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services and Chief Town Planner.
While hearing a writ petition filed be one of the private cruise boat operators regarding infrastructure at the Santa Monica jetty below the Old Mandovi bridge in April, the then Division bench comprising Justice Mahesh Sonak and Justice Valmik SA Menezes inspected the jetty and surrounding areas and took suo motu cognisance of the collapse of the traffic management system along the Dayanand Bandodkar Road from Dona Paula jetty to the Panjim bus stand junction and particularly near the Santa Monica jettyand in front of offices of casino operators causing inconvenience to motorists, fire and emergency services and ambulances finding it difficult to move due to traffic congestion.
The court had observed that ongoing works by the PWD and the IPSCDL or the CCPhad added to the traffic jams and haphazard parking in the city. There wasno coordination between the agencies and the Traffic Police, fire and emergency services and the agencies providing health care services ambulances.
Asking the authorities to stop blame game, the Court had stated that if it is not stopped then the rights of citizens to enjoy safe roads and the use of proper and safe road system, recognised as fundamental right under Article 21of Constitution might be rendered a casualty. The Court has appointed Adv Nigel Costa Frias as amicus curie in the matter.
