Traffic jams just seem to be increasing by the day. The visit of a VVIP just exacerbates the problem as was visible when the President of the republic visited the state. Should the traffic authorities get more proactive and look at restricting heavy traffic, introducing timings for certain kinds of vehicles on the road. The situation is not helped by the fact there is considerable constructions taking place .
I just cannot understand why the common man has to suffer every time a VVIP passes through? The only advantage I see is that the roads and pavements which the President will use will be spic and span and even speed breakers removed so that he has a smooth ride. Then speed breakers will be put back at the cost of the exchequer. The traffic police have done their best. They even wrote to GIDC to repair a road. Poor guys will be on their toes for hours and the President will pass the spot in a second and it will be over. But when that will happen no one knows and till then they are forced to hold the traffic. I do wish in our 60th year of liberation we do liberate ourselves from this VVIP culture and focus our resources on what is needed to be done. The VVIP will be very happy too if this happens.
Blaise Costabir Businessman
Of course with the President visiting the State, the authorities have the impetus to improve the road safety and precautionary measures in favour of the vulnerable road users. The diversion of heavy vehicular traffic does not represent a long term solution and instead, a more consistent approach needs to be designed which rations the practical usage of the road by different forms of vehicular traffic based on peak and off-peak hours for potential traffic jams. Traffic jams and infrastructure development works are unavoidable as the ruling government always seeks to hasten the development at the cost of short term conveniences and this represents a lack of vision by the leadership. I therefore propose that this Presidential visit may be used as a milestone to set a higher degree of road safety endeavors in the state.
Moses Pinto, author of the book: Practice Traffic Yoga.
Well, indeed it’s a total inconvenience for normal citizens when VIPs arrive and there has to be a plan in place which needs to kick in. The root cause needs to be identified and the process needs to be preplanned. If de centralization of certain utilities will ease the traffic flow then that has to be considered. It’s about why should unplanned growth hamper the life quality of residents. Disallowing such movement or public function is akin to saying ‘ don’t fall sick cause we don’t have hospitals’. Everything needs to be planned well. That’s the bottom line.
Sneha Bhandare Urban Designer
I strongly believe there should be restrictions in place, especially during peak hours. Busses, cars and bikes should get preference and yes it would be nice if lanes were allocated to each type of vehicle. It is a circus now. If a VVIP visits then everything is turned on its head. The authorities are trying to work with a system that is broken. It will just not work.
Franz Costa Businessman
Restrictions on heavy vehicles will cause further jams because if heavy vehicles are blocked for a while, then when they are allowed to move, there will be huge convoys of heavy vehicles causing more misery. With the Atal Sethu and the new Zuari bridge, more heavy traffic is bound to move through the state. Instead of building a flyover from Verna to Porvorim, with the newly acquired lands, the width of the NH would allow 6 lane highway. It is purely the misdirectional thinking of the greedy politicians and the spineless bureaucrats which has put Goa is such a pitiful situation today”
Carlos Ferreira Senior Advocate
