VASCO: In absence of traffic signal lights, Dabolim-Bogmalo junction has become a death trap for commuters.
Its close proximity to the international airport and fast moving vehicles have increased the chances of accidents many fold at this junction. Raising fears of its students meeting with accidents, the management of Keshav Smruti Higher Secondary School operating close to the junction has demanded installation of traffic signal at the junction or deployment of police to regulate traffic.
Principal Shankar Gaonkar said, “A number of times we have written to the traffic police to install traffic signal at this junction. Request to deploy traffic police during school time was also made to traffic police specifically between 1.30 pm and 2.30 pm when students return home.”
Headmistress Sushma Korgaonkar also opined that teachers are worried about the safety of the students while crossing the Dabolim-Bogmalo junction.
“We have also written to the traffic police asking them to deploy staff at the junction for the safety of our students. However, they informed as that they do not have enough traffic police. Instead, they have requested us to deploy our warden or security staff to control the vehicular traffic near the school for the safety of the students,” she said.
Assistant Headmistress Rajashree Jadhav said that there were four accidents at the junction, in the last two years. “One of our ninth standard students met with an accident on the road while crossing the junction. He was seriously injured and was unconscious for two days. He had to repeat his class due to the accident,” she said.
“Since the junction is close to the airport, vehicles move at a high speed on this stretch. Therefore, it is a must to have traffic signal at this junction. Our institution had written about this issue to the National highway authorities, the local panchayat, traffic cell but no action was initiated,” she said.
“Now we are deploying our two peons to control the traffic near our school during school time,” Jadhav said and complained that traffic police are posted at the junction when some prominent persons pass through Dabolim-Bogmalo junction.
When contacted, Vasco Traffic PI Suraj Samant said, “I will have to check whether we have received any letter in this regards now or previously. However, due to the staff shortage, the educational institutions were advised to deploy traffic warden during school hours to take care of the road crossing and the safety of the school students.”
