TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: A storm is brewing in Salcete over Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar’s move to make helmets compulsory for pillion riders in the State.
While a signature campaign saying no to helmets on city, village and interior roads got underway at the Old Collectorate building this morning, the Chinchinim Citizens Committee has joined the bandwagon against the government decision, demanding exemption of pillion riders from the helmet rule. Last Sunday saw the Sao Jose de Areal gram sabha strongly opposing compulsory use of helmets for pillion riders, terming the decision as illogical and without merit. Curtorim Panch member J Santano Rodrigues demanded that the government keep on hold the decision and instead improve the condition of roads. Motorcycle pilots once again made a humble plea to the government to do a re-think on the move which will overnight render them jobless.
Activist Laurel Abranches told the media at the Old Collectorate building this morning that they have launched the signature campaign against the government decision, demanding to know whether the design and quality of roads and infrastructure built in Goa too is of ISI standard. “The actual scenario in the town and villages and the internal village roads is that they are in a pathetic condition, wherein a two-wheeler rider cannot ride the vehicle beyond the speed of 20 kmph. “Are the Goa traffic police or the RTO officers trained from international traffic academy?” he demanded to know.
He pointed out that roads in Goa are not designed and constructed as per international standards, basically designed to fill the pockets of road contractors and the entire circuit that is involved from top to down at the cost of the common citizen.
The citizens have urged both the Chief Minister and the Transport Minister to reply to their queries before September 30 before the government goes ahead to enforce helmet rule.
Chinchinim Citizens Committee general secretary Neves Anthony Rebello has appealed to the citizens in particular and NGOs in general to take up the issue with the government so that motorcycle pilots eking a living on the trade are not compelled to join the large army of unemployed youth. “We don’t mind if helmets are made compulsory for pilots and scooterists, but certainly not for pillion riders”, Rebello added.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media on the sidelines of the road safety week at the Don Bosco Engineering College, Fatorda, Assistant Transport Director Sandeep Desai ruled out granting an exemption for pillion riders, especially using motorcycle taxis, from wearing helmets.
