TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Residents of Aquem-Alto are up in arms over the sudden decision by the Margao traffic cell to make the road from Fire station to St Sebastian Church, Aquem one way.
They have threatened to hit the streets if the traffic cell fails to reconsider the decision immediately.
A delegation of residents led by ward Councillor Avinash Shirodkar called on Margao Traffic cell PI Prabodh Shirwaikar to lodge the protest and demand a roll back in the decision. They pointed out that the alternate road notified by the traffic cell is badly damaged and unmotorable after it was dug up to lay the underground sewerage line.
After the meeting, Avinash told the media that the residents of Aquem are put to great hardships over the decision to make the road one way. He has demanded to know why the traffic cell did not take the residents into confidence before enforcing the decision.
“The area is the home for 12,000 residents. We will all come onto the streets and protest if the decision is not rolled back forthwith,” Avinash said, while saying that even the Margao Municipal Council was not taken into confidence before taking the decision.
Margao traffic PI Prabodh Shirwaikar, however, told the media that the traffic cell has only implemented a notification issued way back in 2010. He, however, could not explain why the residents were not taken into confidence before implementing the notification.
“The notification could not be implemented since the last four years for want to sign boards. Now, since the Margao Municipality has provided the sign boards, we have decided to implement the notification,” PI Shirwaikar added.
Replying to a question, he said the opinion of the Aquem residents will be discussed with the traffic cell higher ups and placed before the meeting of the district traffic committee for a decision.
The residents maintained that the traffic officials have taken the decision to make the road one way for traffic by sitting in their chambers instead of inspecting the site and taking the people into confidence.
