Rejuvenate public
transport system
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant while speaking at the 44th anniversary of the Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited at the KTC Bus Terminal, Panjim on Saturday, on the occasion of Dussehra has expressed serious concern over road accidents and appealed to the people travelling long distances mostly on two wheelers to use KTC buses in a bid to avoid risk of accidents. Sounds like a good suggestion but...
Well, the reason why most people (especially from the interior Goan villages) are seen today using their private vehicles and causing traffic congestion cum accidents everywhere then that's because our public transport service system has totally collapsed.
Even the handful of private buses which are currently plying in some villages have been giving the most horrible service to passengers by not maintaining a proper time schedule.
If the government really wants to stop traffic congestion and accidents in the State then it should first of all rejuvenate the public transport service system on top priority basis, launch a number of e-buses throughout the state to improve the existing quality of service of public transport and make more people to travel in such modern hi-fi buses through state-wide campaigns after carrying the repairs of all the horrible roads from the interior villages in different parts of Goa in the near future.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
White topping
tech for roads
The 13th State Road Safety Week was inaugurated on Monday at Don Bosco High School, Panaji. While the increase in the number of road accidents in the state have been attributed to various reasons, it is believed that one of the primary causes is the pathetic condition of the roads which have potholes.
In this contest, it is worthwhile to note that in a new directive, a couple of days back, the Centre has asked the Goa government to use white-topping technology for the rehabilitation of highways that were laid many years ago. White-topping technology allows roads to be resurfaced with a concrete overlay over the existing road, extending the life of the road by another 20 to 25 years. It can utilize recycled materials, such as crushed concrete.
Asphalt surfaces degrade due to oxidation of the bitumen binder. White topping surfaces are less susceptible to cracking, and other forms of damage, leading to lower maintenance costs over time. They provide better skid resistance thereby enhancing safety for drivers. The lighter color of concrete helps reduce the heat effect, as it reflects more sunlight and absorbs less heat than dark asphalt. They contribute to lower overall greenhouse gas emissions. Though the initial cost will be rather high, the longevity of the surface will be more than the bituminous roads. It is learnt that while the Goa Industrial Development Corporation has already decided to implement white-topping of roads in its jurisdiction, the PWD has reportedly been exploring the option.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Recruitments must be
done on basis of merit
The idea of the government to scrap the Goa Staff Selection Commission (GSSC) and to revert back to department wise recruitment, is very unfortunate.
This changes may allow politicians concerned to ensure selection of candidates as per their whims and fancies to strengthen their electoral base. At the same time, this reversal will have a severe effect on those who might have dreamt of getting selected to the posts without any political influence or paying bribes.
Already there are several allegations of recruitment scams in the departments like PWD, Police Collectorate, Health. Such scams are deep rooted cancer which directly needs a 'chemotherapy' of transparency as soon as possible otherwise the day is not far when our system will be nothing better than a corpse.
This not only deprives deserving candidates of their rights but also disturbs the spirit of democracy and damage the social fabric. If GSSC is scrapped, then very next day itself, people will start to queue as the doorsteps of MLAs and Ministers in the hope of getting government jobs. A large percentage of youths aspire to join the government jobs and a level playing field and transparency in recruitment is of extreme importance.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Rising train
accidents
The Balasore train collision and the Kanchanjungha accident were attributed to signal overshooting by the passenger train loco pilot and freight train loco pilot respectively. Now, the Kavaraipettai mishap where the Mysuru--Darbhanga express rammed into a stationary goods train from the rear, is blamed on signal overshooting as well.
The express train loco pilot is said to have entered the loop line inspite of being given a green signal to proceed on the main line. So, what went wrong? Worn-- out signal operating panel and signal modification work are cited as reasons.
According to sources, the switch point system, that is essential for smooth transmission of signals, was found tampered at Kavaraipettai, pointing to the possibility of a sabotage. Additionally, a three --member technical team has reportedly found opening of the mechanical part of the interlocking system.
These are matters of investigation but low speed of the train and Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches seem to have saved the day for thousands of passengers. LHB coaches' anti--climbing properties help them remain scattered on ground. Moreover, the stainless shells of the coaches make sure they do not tear or crumble easily.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Voice of triumph to
celebrate Harris' victory
It’s quite observing and interesting to watch that the legendary music composer A R Rahman is backing up the vice president Kamala Harris by his thirty minute performance through a video presentation for her victory in the upcoming Presidential campaign. The exclusive performance is set to broadcast on AAPI Victory Fund's YouTube and also across major South Asian networks Including AVS and TV Asia, as a part of garnering support for Kamala Harris among south asian voters worldwide.
Rahman is the first major international artist from South Asia to have endorsed Harris, who's of mixed Indian and African origin. Besides South Asians, the voters across may attract towards this musical phenomenon that’s Made In India for the next U S President by this iconic voice of ARR. This can be rightly termed as the Voice of Triumph in future to celebrate Harris victory.
A P Thiruvadi, Chennai