VIBHA VERMA
PANJIM: Concerned over road engineering defects that partly contribute to accidents, the draft Traffic Management Plan has proposed the immediate rectification of this, and listed down safety measures that include pay parking in urban areas.
The comprehensive plan that has been submitted to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for an approval after the go-ahead from Police Chief Muktesh Chander, also seeks to formulate on priority a Road Digging Policy, considering that potholed roads are a nuisance particularly during the monsoon.
“One of the major factors leading to deteriorating road conditions of Goan roads is uncontrolled and unauthorised road digging. In order to control this menace, it is required to formulate a Road Digging Policy on priority,” states the draft of the plan, a copy of which is in possession of Herald.
Road widening, improvement of blind spots and accident prone zones on priority, replacing delineators with concrete central dividers, exploring possibility of increasing road network, shifting electric poles existing on widened roads, road digging/blocking for construction activities to be coordinated with Traffic Police are some of the responsibilities for Public Works Department (PWD).
With road engineering the most important aspect, factors like creating lanes, service lanes, exit and entries on highways and other roads; providing segregation of traffic by means of medians, removal of black spots where frequent accidents are reported and providing improved visibility; separating various classes of vehicles to avoid clash, etc have been identified in the plan.
While for the civic bodies, the department has urged prioritising to introduce pay parking system that would ease traffic congestion. The proposal comes at the time when the capital city, that was the first to introduce pay parking across major streets, scrapped the project just two months ago. The department has also suggested creating parking spaces to reduce on-street parking and allowing free movement of vehicles.
The draft has sought strict action against roadside vendors, hoardings and encroachments – a menace across many parts of the State. Pruning of trees and clearing of shrubs growing on the signages is yet another task suggested by the Traffic Department.
“During any accident of fatal or serious in nature, traffic officers carry out spot inspections and if the accident is due to defective road engineering, a report is sent to PWD for improvement/development of the accident spot,” states the plan.
Likewise, proposals are sent to PWD and other civic bodies for road traffic signages – mandatory, cautionary and informatory, gantries, road markings, zebra crossings, speed breakers, railing, street lighting, etc. In the last calendar year, 695 proposals were sent to the authorities concerned including District Collectors and Transport Department.
The plan, once approved, will be strictly enforced, and has specified a role for the Home Department such as appointing Special Judicial Magistrates at each taluka in a bid to dispose of cases expeditiously, and to revert 50 percent of the revenue collected by the Traffic Police to the department.
Calling for coordination from authorities concerned, the Traffic Department has also roped-in Education, Transport and Health Departments for support through various means.
