MARGAO: Expressing anguish over the increasing number of fatal accidents in Goa, the organisation Movement for Amity towards Roads in Goa (MARG), has appealed to the government to implement a series of corrective measures, while also appealing to the public to maintain road discipline.
Referring to recent statistics, MARG said it is a matter of serious public concern that there has been a 30% rise in fatal accidents compared to the previous year.
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MARG lamented that there has been a poor implementation of safety rules in Goa, and shared a list of issues the government must address, starting with speed breakers, which are not placed as per the prevailing rules.
“Many speed breakers lack sign boards. Even if there is a sign board, it is kept very close to the speed breaker or completely covered by creepers and hidden in shrubbery. At some places, signs are not placed on either side of the speed breakers,” said MARG spokesperson Auda Viegas.
On a related note, MARG said there are issues with the placement of signboards that indicate speed limits. At some places, there are boards that show a 60 km/hr speed limit but immediately after that, there is a ‘go slow’ board, said Viegas.
“This is dangerous and confusing, as it is difficult to reduce speed immediately,” she explained.
MARG urged the appropriate authority to order an immediate in-depth inspection of all speed breakers and sign boards and identify places that lack them.
MARG then highlighted the problem of potholes and insisted that government departments like Transport, PWD and Urban Development as well as municipalities and panchayats, are duty-bound to provide safe and motorable roads, without any obstructions.
“There has to be a mechanism within the system to conduct a monthly inspection and maintenance of the
roads which will reduce potholes, and in turn accidents,” said Viegas.
Viegas gave an example of a recent accident that took place on the pothole-
riddled Comba Subway that also gets water-logged during the rains.
“This badly-maintained, congested road is used by two colleges and two schools and the fact that it’s still left in this condition is shocking,” said Viegas
Finally, MARG also demanded that the citizens obey the law as they can be held accountable under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. “Only if they strictly comply with the rules can there be effective administration of road safety,’ she said.
