TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2024
ANIL KUMAR MISHRA
PANJIM: Ever since the so-called Smart City works commenced, there has been no respite for the residents of the State’s capital city, as their nightmare continues, while commuting along the deadly roads which have already claimed two lives.
Now, commuting along these deadly roads has taken a ‘deadly turn’ has resulted in confusion and chaos among motorists, as most traffic signages in the so-called ‘Smart City’ have faded, while others have ‘disappeared’, especially those indicating ‘one-way’.
The prevailing chaotic situation has come as a blessing for those visiting the State’s capital city, especially for domestic tourists, who have taken full advantage by recklessly commuting along the city’s dug up roads by putting their lives and those of the others at risk.
The chaotic situation in Panjim has been attributed to ongoing Smart City works undertaken by the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL).
The disappearance of signages has left the motorists confused as there are no traffic wardens/traffic police deployed on the city roads or at important junctions to regulate traffic or to guide motorists.
In a startling revelation, it has come to light that the traffic police have adopted a lenient approach towards the violators following road closures, but this lenient approach poses risk to motorists and pedestrians. Due to closure or road blockades, the motorists, particularly two-wheelers, are found defying rules by navigating into wrong lanes thereby putting the lives of pedestrians at risk.
These tourists are often found riding on the footpaths meant for pedestrians.
At night, most traffic violations are reported behind the Old Secretariat and in front of the Panjim Residency where riders and motorists enter the ‘no-entry’ zones posing threat to road users. Most rent-a-bike and rent-a-car drivers are spotted regularly taking the wrong side along the M G Road.
Adding salt to injury, those employed by food order and delivery platforms are often found recklessly overtaking vehicles to reach their respective customers.
Already two lives have been lost due to the Smart City works undertaken in Panjim and Ribandar. In the first incident, a 28-year-old labourer from Bihar died after the road he was digging caved in at Ribandar last year, while in the second incident reported in January this year, 21-year-old Ayush Halankar from Ribandar, the son of a former CCP councillor lost his life when he fell into a road dug up at Mala.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) Mayor Rohit Monserrate said, “The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) is supposed to replace all signages along the roads. That is why we have not touched any signage in the central parts of the city. It has to be done by the IPSCDL.”
Deputy Mayor Sanjiv Naik said, “Signages have been removed because work is going on in the city. They will be installed once the road works are complete. People are entering ‘no entry’ zones as other roads are dug. Once the road works are ready, everything will fall in place.”
When contacted, Panjim Traffic Cell PI Chetan Saulekar said, “We have written a letter to the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd with regards to signages. As the work is going on, it has not been done. They will mark areas meant for the parking and install boards for two-wheelers and four-wheelers. The signboards were removed as the roadworks were undertaken.”
In a statement, IPSCDL said, “Wherever Smart City works are underway, new signages will be installed after the completion of the road works — three-km in Central Panjim and three-km at St Inez. All balanced roads are under CCP where they have installed and are maintaining the signages.”
