Salcete
The Directorate of Transport has begun its Road Safety Week. But this exercise has been reduced to a mere farce and is more of a publicity exercise for the department to utilise the funds allotted to them from the State exchequer for the purpose.
Recently, a local English daily highlighted the present dismal state of road transport and the woes faced by the commuting public while travelling in private buses. It also underscored the various irregularities committed by them such as halting their vehicles at unauthorised bus stops, driving either very slowly or recklessly. The reserved seats marked for the physically challenged, senior citizens and women are occupied by other passengers with the bus conductor turning a convenient blind eye, to it.
But what would be very interesting is if the Directorate of Transport has taken suo-moto cognisance of the various violations that have been highlighted by the media, especially since the North Goa Enforcement section has failed to severely penalise these erring habitual offenders of the Motor Vehicle Rules & Regulations unlike their counterparts in South Goa.
While the Director of Transport, Arun Dessai is quick to pass on the blame onto hapless commuters, I wonder if the travelling public has been properly informed of the computerised SMS complaint service on 51969, that was launched by the transport department through which one could register his/her complaint with the transport authorities on which they claim they would take immediate action.
Was there sufficient awareness created among the travelling commuters about this SMS complaint facility? If so, why are none of the private bus operators issuing tickets to passengers despite there being a fine of Rs 500 for this offence?
Another common offence is of passengers sitting in the driver’s cabin, which evokes a fine of Rs 700 for the private bus operator.
Will the Transport Director Arun Dessai provide a reply as to how many private bus operators were fined for the above two offences in North Goa recently?
Since it is clearly observed that none of them abide by the Motor Vehicle Rules & Regulations due to the connivance of certain senior transport officials who fail to conduct regular drives against these erring private bus operators as attempts are made to protect them with no action being taken on the SMS complaints made to the transport authorities.
