5 check posts to keep eye on mining traffic
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, APRIL 11
The South Goa district magistrate has ordered erection of five check posts to monitor mining traffic in the Sanvordem, Curchorem, Tilamol, Ambaulim stretch of the road from Monday.
The district magistrate’s order will come into effect from tomorrow and will remain in force till May 31. The order will be enforced on a daily basis from 6 am to 6 pm.
District Magistrate, G P Naik told Herald on Sunday that the check posts will not only monitor and regulate mining traffic, but will ensure that the total volume of mining traffic is reduced by 50 per cent.
The five check posts will be erected at the Sanvordem junction, Curchorem junction, Shivaji Chowk, Tilamol junction and Ambaulim.
Explaining the working of the check posts, Naik said the mining traffic coming from Gudemol and Sanguem will be closely monitored at the Sanvordem junction checkpost. He said the old bridge will be opened for traffic following a go ahead signal from the engineering college and will be used for plying of empty mining trucks.
He said the mining trucks coming from Rivona and Quepem will be monitored at the Tilamol junction, adding that the Ambaulim junction will keep a close track on traffic and will be in constant touch with the Tilamol junction. “If required the ground at Ambaulim at will be used for parking of mining trucks as part of the traffic regulation plan”, he added.
Naik said around 13 teams from the traffic department have been constituted to implement the order which is based on the series of discussions and deliberations the government had with the stake holders. “The traffic teams will monitor the volume of traffic and ensure that the overall trips is curtailed to 50 per cent”, he said.
Replying to a question, Naik said that information suggests that around 1,700 trips were made by the mining trucks on a given day, adding that a great deal will be achieved by the latest measure if the traffic is brought down to even 8000 trips per day.
Saying that his order will continue in force till May 31 this year, Naik said the district administration will pursue other long-term measures, including the by-pass road for mining traffic.
