TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Goa government’s Cujira school complex project was meant to decongest the Panjim city, but shifting of six schools and higher secondaries is likely to create traffic chaos near St Cruz and Bambolim on the highway.
The Traffic Department, instead of planning in advance, is waiting for the schools to begin functioning and then conduct a study on managing vehicular traffic at the spot.
“For now, the roads are being widened. It will curb traffic congestion as well as vehicular queues on the highway. To know the exact situation, we have to wait for the educational institutions to start functioning,” Deputy Superintendent of Police (North Goa Traffic) Dharmesh Angle told Herald.
The Traffic Cell is also yet to carry out a survey of the floating vehicular population in the area as the complex, located close to Goa Medical College and Hospital, will add to the burden on the road.
“Several two-wheelers and four-wheelers ply on the road. There are patients and their visitors in the GMC daily. With the six educational institutions starting this academic year, the vehicular population will multiply and congest the entire stretch,” Dielle Monteiro, a Bambolim resident told Herald.
The Education Department has allayed fears of traffic chaos, claiming that the project’s implementation is based on a proper plan. “We took into consideration all the aspects before starting this project. What is the purpose if Panjim schools are shifted to Cujira to decongest the capital and instead create problems here?” an education official, who is closely monitoring the project, said.
