In life, two things are certain: death and taxes. However, it is possible to prevent road fatalities. Unfortunately, Goan roads have progressively transformed into perilous traps leading to loss of life. This issue has been repeatedly brought to light by multiple sources citing various reasons such as improper driving behaviour, inadequate road infrastructure or lack thereof, deficient upkeep of vehicles, driving while under the influence of substances and so forth – an exhaustive list indeed.
Numerous writers have endeavoured to rouse the Government’s attention, with a current emphasis on addressing accident-prone areas or “black spots”. During his inauguration of the new Zuari bridge, the Minister for Highways, Mr. Gadkari committed Rs 177 crores towards mitigating these black spots in Goa. This announcement instils hope that once these funds are appropriately allocated and utilized, Goan roads will undoubtedly become safer.
The police, being intimately familiar with accident scenarios due to their frequent exposure to them, have proffered nearly 2000 recommendations aimed at mitigating such incidents. Financial constraints may impede the implementation of these measures; however, with Rs 177 crores, not anymore.
In 2021, the Directorate of Transport issued a notification regarding the “Goa Causes & Analysis of Motor Vehicle Accidents and Wayside Amenities on Highways Scheme 2021”. Section 6 (A) outlines the establishment of a “Road Engineering Committee” comprising all PWD engineers from various divisions. The committee is expected to convene four times annually, deploy experts to address black spots and establish smaller sub-committees within each police station’s jurisdiction for efficient management of these areas. Regrettably, there has been no visible progress as everything seems to exist only on paper.
When there are recurrent accidents at a specific location, the general public becomes actively involved and urges the authorities to take necessary measures. In order to emphasize the pivotal role that local residents can play in this regard, we will examine one such problematic area and suggest that instead of directly approaching the Collector’s office, it would be more effective for them to address their concerns to the Sub-Committee operating under the jurisdiction of their nearest police station.
Located on the Ponda Margao road in Raia, the Uzro junction exemplifies the crossroads commonly found throughout Goa. While not a perfect intersection, it sees four or more roads intersecting at various angles, rendering it accident-prone. One of these roads features an incline that challenges drivers to maintain control and avoid rolling back onto the main carriage way – regardless of whether it is clear or not. The Uzro junction is representative of junctions across Goa.
One day, a mother and her son were injured in an accident involving a concrete mixer colliding with their two-wheeler. Fed up with this recurring event, the locals approached the Collector to demand the installation of a speed breaker. The Collector promptly ordered the Public Works Department (PWD) to install one. The following day, a PWD contractor arrived and constructed an enormous speed breaker by dumping asphalt on the road. However, neither the contractor nor the supervising PWD engineer seemed aware of specifications for speed breakers or requirements for warning lights that blink.
Multiple accidents occurred immediately, catching regular users off guard. The speed breakers had been removed earlier, now caught off guard, sudden braking resulted in accidents. However, the locals swiftly responded by gathering together to erect metal barricades at night similar to those used for naka bandis which worked.
The next day, the contractor came and lowered the speed breakers under supervision of the locals. It is now possibly at the right height and will surely slow the traffic but will reduce the accidents? Is this the solution?
The lack of specialised road engineers within the PWD comes to the fore. The issue with the junction cannot be solved by speed breakers. There is a flaw in the road engineering that needs to be addressed. The road dividers stop far from the actual junction, this makes it very difficult to cross as there is no marking for pedestrians to stand at the halfway mark. There is no lane marked and the road has an “curve”, drivers from Ponda go past in a straight line, not following the natural curve in the road, this would be avoided by dividers and lane marking.
Why did the PWD engineers sign off on the contractors bill if he had not placed the dividers correctly, or totally, he would have got paid for that part too. Lastly, there is a blind spot. Traffic, coming onto the main road cannot see traffic coming from Margao unless they enter the main road, this danger will be reduced but not eliminated with the speed breaker as some drivers will still drive over the speed breaker recklessly. The blind spot can be eliminated with simple road re-design.
The distance between the present speed bumps and the intersection renders them ineffective as vehicles tend to accelerate once they have passed over the bumps.
It is important to note that speed breakers are not a universal solution to accident-prone spots. While they may seem like an easy fix, they are not permitted on National Highways for a reason and the same should be applicable to State highways. Instead, engineers should study the situation comprehensively and implement appropriate actions. If speed breakers have to be put in place, they should be installed on side roads rather than main roads. The Goa Institute of Management students have set a good example by conducting studies on accident spots as part of their corporate social responsibility. With the funds promised by the centre, it is hoped that these black spots will finally be addressed and we will see a reduction in accidents and fatalities by 2024.
It is hoped that the impetus to decrease accidents will inspire the PWD to provide road engineering training for select engineers. The Panaji Mayor has called for responsibility to be established in relation to the demise of a motorcyclist who fell into unmarked trench. In like manner, the PWD must bear liability when mishaps occur as a result of inadequate design or incomplete work. Enjoy Republic Day, knowing INDIA is a great country.
(The author prefers to write rather than chat in a balcao)
