A wide open stretch road can give wings to freedom and it is unfortunate when this freedom is
abused. A Goan Marathi daily in January 2020 reported about the drag races that
are taking place on the roads of Verna Industrial Estate. However, the report
was ignored and no action was taken. Sadly, the recent disaster on the same spot
has claimed the lives of three young boys. The four-lane open road that
stretches to close to a kilometre has turned into a haven for racing and a hub
for other illicit activities.
Blaise Costabir, President, Verna Industries Association (VIA)
Verna, says, “This was a tragedy waiting to happen. The stretch is mostly
deserted and is used by the young to race cars and bikes. This usually happens
in the evening. Our association intends to do something very soon. Recently,
there was an accident involving a bike but luckily the rider survived. The
death of the three young boys is very sad.”
Roland Martins, Coordinator of Goacan, wrote to the Managing
Director of the Goa Industrial Development Corporation about some open
stretches of road within the Verna Industrial Estate that need active watch or
scrutiny by the Field Manager of the Verna Industrial Estate. “Many roads in
the industrial estate are made and kept for advance activity. There are no road
safety signs or barricades. These broad roads are isolated spots with no
traffic coming from the opposite direction. Drag races have been going on for
some time now. When there is a road that looks like a race track it becomes an
incentive to race. If you don’t have a license and you find a place that is
unmanned and unscrutinised, people with enthusiasm, curiosity and thrill will
venture there,” says Martins.
He strongly urged the Managing Director to take into confidence
the Verna Industries Association (VIA), Goa Traffic Police, Public Works
Department and the South Goa District Administration to find a way to secure
these stretches of road within the jurisdiction of the Verna Industrial Estate
to avoid road accidents resulting in injuries and deaths.
Rupesh Khandekar from Shiroda is the President of the Bajaj Avenger
Club Goa. “Four months ago, I met one of the three boys as he had come to meet
my nephew. I scolded him for driving and riding without a licence. Every
Sunday, the four of them would travel to the spot for racing. However, this
Sunday, my nephew was not with them. There were reports that said that they
were learning to drive which is not true; these boys had been visiting the
place for almost 7-8 months,” says Khandekar.
He
adds, “Since I live in Shiroda, the same route is the shortest to reach Panjim.
Every Sunday, I see a huge gathering of young boys and girls. They try bike
stunts and pop wheelies, with quite a crowd cheering them on for drag races.
It’s surprising how this has been going on unchecked for so long. There has
been no patrolling on that road to stop these races. There is a cross junction
which is where the races usually begin and then a 500 metres slope and an
incline on the broad road.” Rupesh and members of the club go on rides to
different cities to spread awareness about road safety as well as have sessions
in different higher secondary schools and colleges in Goa.
This
is not the first instance where innocent young lives have been lost due to
negligence and riding/ driving without a licence. While this accident has
raised many issues, activist Sanjeev Sardessai feels that this accident could
have taken more innocent lives if it had to happen on the highway. “Licensing
authorities should be held responsible for proper licensing. Children are dying
because the enforcement authorities are not strict. The boy who was driving the
car killed two other boys with him. A collision could have led to more
casualties. Who would have been responsible? A child will want the world but it
is the parent who should make them understand the difference between want and
need,” says Sanjeev Sardessai.
