While there has been little respite from the rain to repair the roads, the lethargic efforts of the government to do so have also not paid any dividends. A question arises, which nobody seems to have an answer to, why are such large groups of cops/traffic police/RTO (motor vehicle inspectors) required to catch traffic offenders? Surely, these people without helmets aren’t thieves or terrorists that require so many cops to catch them.
The cops, standing on either side of the road to catch helmetless bikers, not only cause danger to motorists, but also affect the smooth flow of traffic. One thing is for sure, the group of cops could send shivers down the spines of foreign tourists who do not know what is happening. They may even imagine there is a nakabandi or that the police are looking out for a terrorist on the run.
With bad road conditions, Goa needs good traffic regulation for the safety of citizens as viewing the condition of roads one may feel like the Vikram Lander, which had a rough landing on the moon. The pothole anthem by supermom Cecille Rodrigues has added salt to the government’s injury. While it is a debatable issue whether the government is to be blamed or the contractors or the marauding monsoons, one thing is for sure, the government can do much more than this. The policemen surely, can play their part rather than just waiting in groups to complete their challan targets.
There are many places in Goa like the road opposite the Sharda Mandir school which turns into a nightmare for motorists due to traffic in the afternoons. Shockingly, when there are 10 to 15 policemen waiting to penalise offenders, there are hardly one or two to man the traffic in Miramar. Similar is the situation near OCoqueiro junction, Mary Immaculate school, the Cujira complex and other spots which need more than two people to guide the traffic. Policemen are needed along the main roads near Panjim bus stand, Colvale highway, Guirim road, Pernem, Canacona, Margao to make people aware of the danger of the potholes, where there is every possibility of two-wheeler riders having fatal falls.
Nearly 40 of the 95 Regional Transport Office (RTO) inspectors failed to achieve the monthly target of issuing ‘challans’ to traffic rule violators last year and they had to work in night shifts and also on weekends without compensatory off to meet the challan target. The Transport Department had asked assistant motor vehicle inspectors and motor vehicle inspectors to complete the failed targets along with penalty target. The department has also asked them to submit a weekly performance report to the head office.
According to the order, which is in place since September 29, 2018 the executive staff of the registering and enforcement cell, that have not achieved the targets between April and June have been asked to perform enforcement duties on Saturdays and Sundays, in rotation from 1pm to 9pm till the backlog of targets, including additional penalty targets, which is double the backlog, are achieved. They have also been asked to drive the vehicle provided if the driver is unavailable. Similar is the case with the Traffic Cell of Goa Police, that have been given targets to achieve.
One, therefore, wonders whether the government is concerned about the safety of people or only interested in collecting revenue in the form of fines. Yes, cops and motor vehicle inspectors are for law enforcement duties, but that cannot be at the cost of people’s lives. The same citizens pay road tax when they buy the vehicle. It appears it is time people ask for a refund of that road tax as there is no proper road left.
