Karol Fernandes
The recent developments happening in Goa have put it on a course, set a road map. This route is not calculated by Google maps, however, it does have a lot of red areas and as usual it has alternate routes to avoid the traffic and blockades to reach the destination. “You are on the fastest route to your destination” that is the message Google always gives at the end. However, this time there is an addition to it, “Are you sure you want to reach this destination?”. This is a question we Goans need an answer to, from our political drivers.
The destination in this case would be a rather unpleasant one. It’s full of casinos, full of unnecessary roads, full of hooligans, full of drugs and all anti social activities.
Goa was a green place before. However, with current destination we are heading towards I don’t see any mangroves nor trees. Forget the birds and animals, I don’t even see many Goans. We have so many roads, new ones sprout everyday where a plant should have been. Where are these roads leading to? To any Goan homes? To any place we Goans are interested? Government says roads are needed to support the rise in traffic. The answer according to me is in a question. Why is the public transport system so bad? Why are Taxis and Rickshaws not running on meters? “The meter rates are not enough to earn a living as not many people use the taxis and rickshaws. Hence for the one fare we get we have to charge them exorbitant money to meet our needs” the taxi owners defend. They also oppose the introduction of Uber and other companies. To them my simple question is what has led to your low business? Isn’t it the exorbitant prices itself? Think about it. If you had to charge the normal expected rates by the meter wouldn’t more people prefer to use your services given that private parking is scarce in our cities and towns?
If you want to reduce the congestion on the roads especially in and around towns and cities the suggestion would be to not to allow private cars to enter the towns and cities as most European countries do. This will reduce the congestion, and since you cannot take private cars in towns and cities this would boost the public transport within the cities/towns thus making it sustainable for the taxi/rickshaw/bus owners and for the environment too. Also the money wasted in road infrastructure could be used elsewhere like garbage disposal, city cleaning machines or something more useful. One of the least invested option in public transport in Goa is trains. With rest of major cities investing in mass transport systems of metros and local trains, I feel this is a good option to explore.
Recently everyone feels hot in Goa. In the past I used to see only girls covering their faces and arms, now the trend is adopted by boys too. I don’t say boys need not take care of their skins. However the fact that we feel hot and need to cover our faces on the roads indicates the lack of shade. Wouldn’t it be better if we had a canopy of trees along the roads, get rid of those face masks and feel the breeze in our face? I strongly feel bike rides were meant to have the breeze in your face experience. The ones who give orders to cut the trees along the road don’t need them as unlike us they roam in AC cars with blinders, never get stuck in traffic as we have to always give them way. May be if they had to pay for their own fuel and had to wait in traffic like us, they would not have given the orders.
People who run the State should think about their decision and instead of taking routes around the retaliations, they should take the routes around conventional methods to solve issues that damage the identity of Goa and investigate the problems to come up with innovative solutions using the existing infrastructure and source of income. We have enough sources of income for the State that we do not need additional casinos and other ill developments and businesses under the disguise of tourism to generate revenues.
My fellow Goans the route is mapped already, it is revealed to us in parts. The destination, however, is full of dark clouds. The driver is responsible to drive us, he can choose the route, however, it’s the passengers that need to decide the destination and when the driver is taking you to a wrong destination, it’s time you change the driver.
-A Goan like you.
