Fed up with the state government ignoring an issue that affected hundreds daily, social activist Arturo D’souza took up the initiative of exerting pressure on the government to solve the traffic woes on the road outside Goa Medical College in the interest of safety to public life.
After his month long campaign that included standing outside GMC for a week, an online petition and a signature campaign, the efforts of the Santa Cruz residents are paying off with the subway being open to use and being frequented by the student population in particular.
It may be recalled that in his earlier representations submitted to the Public Works Department (PWD, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and other government heads including the Chief Minister, Arturo had made two demands.
“We appeal to you and the authorities who should be concerned about the safety of the people, to take immediate steps to either create a proper plan to manage the traffic or to immediately open the already constructed subway to the general public,” read Arturo’s letter to Laxmikant Parsekar.
Through the letter, Arturo pointed out that the construction of the motorable underground subway began in 2013 by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Council (GSIDC).
“Though the subway was to be opened before the commencement of the Lusofonia Games, to ease traffic and movement of vehicles, the inordinate delay has caused extreme hardship to the general public. Patients and the general public who visit GMC have to risk their lives while crossing over to board buses. Besides there is utter chaos during peak hours and minor accidents occur on a daily basis,” reads an excerpt of that letter.
Arturo had also filed an online grievance with the NHAI and personally wrote a letter to the Traffic Police Superintendent (SP) last year about the chaotic situation at GMC.
“No one responded to my concerns. Over the years and due to no traffic control measures in terms of cautionary sign boards vehicles move in various directions. To make matters worse the old railing and barricades haven’t been removed. If these are removed it would reduce the danger to the commuters and patients who stand there to board buses. I have seen parents hold their children in an embrace while waiting for the bus in fear of their children landing on the road as vehicles are forced to come close to the railing as vehicles taking the shortcut route jump onto the highway thus vehicles sway to the left to save themselves from collision. So the railing has to be removed as soon as possible,” said Arturo while explaining what led him to take to the streets to protest.
Speaking about his protests where he stood outside GMC holding placards for 2 hours every evening for a week, Arturo recalled that ‘initially passersby laughed at him as they thought that he was a fool’. “This prompted me to post on social media. The reaction there was tremendous that gave me the courage to stand again the following day. Some of my social media friends came to support me later many joined in to congratulate my endeavour. Doctors too applauded my singular efforts and were surprised to see me stand alone,” recalled Arturo. Arturo who works in the event business said it pained him to see people being exposed to extreme dangers and it was in his nature to do his bit for the good of and safety of the people whenever he can and thus he decided to take up this issue in this fashion.
“In the free time that I get, I use it see what best I can do towards benefitting society,” added Arturo.
