The choice of the Indian Institute of Manage ment (IIM) Nagpur to exam ine issues surrounding the six-lane Porvorim elevated flyover has raised questions over whether an engineer ing institution such as an IIT would have been better suited to study the road and structural aspects of the project. IIMs are recognised for their expertise in manage ment, economics, finance and project administration.
While, IITs house special ised departments deal ing with civil engineering, transportation, structural design, traffic engineering and infrastructure safety. Goa Civic and Consum er Action Network (GOA CAN) Coordinator Roland Martins noted that the Department of Transport has already appointed the IIT Madras Centre of Ex cellence for Road Safety (CoERS) which is working on road-safety research, data analysis, engineer ing interventions and evi dence-based measures to reduce road crash fatalities in the State. Recently, it conducted a full-day workshop on Data-Driven Hyperlocal Interventions (DDHI) in Goa. “IIT Madras has experts who designed iRAD (Inte grated Road Accident Da tabase) and e-DAR (Elec tronic Detailed Accident database).
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These plat forms integrate accident information from police, health, transport and high way authorities and uses data analysis to support road-safety interventions,” Martins said. When asked wheth er the State government should have sought assis tance of IIT Goa, Martins explained that IIT Madras is a principal agency with vast experience, special ising in accidents analysis with a strong track record in road safety data. Former PWD Superin tending Engineer Prasad Panandikar stated, “There are certified road auditors who are experts in road and traffic engineering.” Panandikar said, “Those studying management or pur suing an MBA cannot do road engineering. IIMs are not ex perts in this field.
The government should have appointed Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) which possesses the necessary technical expertise.” Former PWD chief engineer Santosh Mhapne added, “I do not know the terms and conditions signed with IIM Nagpur. Commuters cannot currently use the entire highway safely. For instance, a two-wheeler rider travelling from Pernem to Panjim on NH 66 should be informed well in advance that they will have to take the service road at Atal Setu en trance. Proper signage providing all necessary information must be erected well before that point is reached.” PWD Principal Chief Engineer Sandip Chodnekar stated that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has convened a meet ing of all stakeholders at the Mantralaya, Porvorim at 11 am on September 21, to find a solution to the issue. The IIM Nagpur team, who inspected the flyover site, has submitted its data report, which will be discussed during the meeting.
