MARGAO: Even after the Margao Traffic Police have stepped up its campaign for booking cases of violation of Motor Vehicle Act and Rules, encroachment on the footpaths along the roads leading to main town from Aquem and Gogol ensure that the road is ridden with traffic jams during the peak hours.
The Traffic Police are yet to start a drive to get rid of fruit vendors for displaying fruits and other goods by the side of the road, inviting traffic congestion and accidents. The situation worsens during the peak hours, leading to long traffic jams in the heart of Margao and its surrounding areas.
In many places in Margao, the footpaths or passages meant for people to walk do not technically exist, as they are either too narrow for walking on, or have been encroached by the hawkers, forcing the pedestrians onto the roads.
For instance, in the new market, the footpaths or passages meant for the people to walk do not technically exist as they are encroached by the “Sopo” occupiers resulting in cases of pickpocketing. A senior Traffic Police Officer said that the Traffic Police are in talks with the Margao Municipal Council to find a solution to this problem. “Sopo” owners too have encroached upon municipal land and occupied the municipal land. However, no action is being taken by the municipality.
Even as the parking places not existing, Traffic Police are making sure that those who park their vehicles in “No Parking Areas” are penalised.
One former councillor of Margao Municipal Council said that in Margao town and its closeby areas, it is very common to hear loud noise of cars screeching to a halt to avoid hitting the people walking on the road since pavements are very narrow, and often you see buses parked on one side of the road. Passages are occupied by hawkers. In such a condition, how do the pedestrians find their way out.
A Traffic Cell Head Constable on the condition of anonymity informed that fruit vendors have set their gadda by the roadside at several places in Margao and its close by areas and the municipal authority is yet to take action against them.
He said that since the hawkers occupy the footpaths, pedestrians have no option but to walk on the roads and this affects the smooth flow of traffic, leading to jams.
He said that in few places where the traffic movement is proper, an unsuspecting pedestrian, who is suddenly forced onto the road, is vulnerable to falling under some speeding wheels.
“We have taken meetings with the concern officials and have asked them to take action against the hawkers who occupy the footpaths.
Police said that very few footpaths in the town are being used exclusively by the pedestrians. Most of the footpaths have been encroached upon in such a manner that it is a pity to see the concerned authorities just sit and watch,” he added.
He said that the municipal authorities undertake operations to seize goods kept on municipal encroached land but no one issues them notice or check places allotted to the vendors to occupy. From Bombay Café to old railway stations, it is almost impossible for people to walk. Fruit vendors have encroached on the footpaths.
Vinayak Naik, working in private shop said that he spends more than an hour from Ramnagri to Margao town and traffic jams seemed almost everlasting, making travelling seem like the biggest mistake.
“These vendors are the biggest menace on the roads. (Due to them) the people drive and stop at will. It seems as if the traffic rules don’t apply to them,” said Ashok Naik, a retired government official.
“Apart from the parked cars, encroachment by the hawkers on the footpaths and the lack of a foot over bridge or an underpass on the entire stretch leaves the pedestrians with no choice but to walk on the main road,” he added.
