Team Herald
PANJIM: The congested Zuari Bridge will soon be fitted with closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) as the government has decided to curb heavy traffic along the stretch, prime cause of which are the tourist taxi drivers.
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has decided to tighten the noose around the tourist taxi drivers following several cases of violations resulting in accidents and traffic chaos. The project is expected to begin soon.
“Most of the taxi drivers are violating the rules. Many are not moving their vehicles in a single line because they (drivers) want more trips (of passengers). Want to tell them that this is not the way to behave when you are on the road. Hence, CCTV cameras will record the violations and accordingly challans be issued at the homes of the owners of the registered vehicles,” he said after a coordination meeting with the officials concerned at the Secretariat on Monday
The government has been receiving complaints regarding the huge traffic snarls especially during the rush hour with many commuters reaching late to their respective destinations. In a latest instance, a family from Margao reached their wedding reception in Panjim after nearly three and half hours due to the huge traffic snarls.
Godinho said the CCTVs will be installed on either side of the bridge – Cortalim and Agassaim.
He conceded that due to violation of traffic rules, on an average at least one accident is being reported every day. It also leads to traffic chaos, he added. “I appeal to follow the traffic rules and not to jump the red lights, do not go onto the wrong side of the roads and avoid short cuts. This will help in reducing accidents and traffic jam,” he commented.
The State, he said, is also mooting procuring interceptor vehicles equipped with cameras to be deployed across different parts of Goa within a year.
