Santosh Naik
PONDA: Despite 1.5 lakh challans for traffic violations being issued by the Police Traffic Cell, the cops have failed to create an awareness of wearing a helmet whilst riding a bike or scooter.
With the offices in Margao and Panjim not sufficient to handle the challans, the police have now decided to open an office in Ponda.
Thousands of people residing in Ponda have expressed strong resentment calling the action as harassment as the town is small compared to the other towns in Goa. Even the Ponda Municipal Council has taken a resolution for demanding relaxation on the helmet rule in the town.
Thanks to the Traffic Sentinel Schemes, the challans for traffic violations have increased considerably. Some sources say that the traffic sentinels click pictures of helmet-less riders in the towns from the backside of the vehicle, leaving the riders themselves unaware they are being caught for breaking the traffic rules.
Since past June after the launch of traffic sentinel scheme based on complaints of traffic sentinels, the traffic cell challans for traffic violations have crossed lakhs, said sources in the traffic department.
However, according to sources, most of the challans were issued for not wearing helmet and that too mostly in towns and villages. Despite majority of challans issued for not wearing helmets the traffic department and the traffic sentinels, the sources said, have failed to create awareness on the importance of wearing a helmet. Even after thousands of challans issued for not wearing helmets, the people are still moving on their bikes without wearing helmets in the town.
The three recent deaths in the first week of this year due to not wearing helmets have failed to create a fear among the riders, sources said.
Even the DIG has been forced to issue a warning to the riders explaining the dangers of not wearing a helmet for both the rider and the pillion.
The sentinels are reportedly clicking photos from the backside of the bike rider, with the riders often unaware they are being photographed for traffic violation. Although many have been paying challans, the riders often do not care to check why they are being issued the challans. This, the sources say, do not make the riders serious about wearing helmets.
