Team Herald
MARGAO: Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco while expressing surprise over Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho’s statement that the Centre has pulled up the State for not implementing the amended Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, asserted that the act is not acceptable in its present form.
The Curtorim MLA said the amendment has been done without application of mind and pointed out that the fines are so hefty that they would kill the common man who may as well have to shell out his entire earnings for a silly mistake like not carrying license or not wearing a seat belt.
Reginaldo questioned Mauvin’s claim of adopting the Gujarat model and asked why Goa could not have its own MV Act given the fact that it is an independent State and an act by the govt could be tailored to suit the State’s needs.
He pointed out to the pathetic condition of roads in Goa where common people have lost their lives in accidents caused by potholes and other bad roads. Besides, he said the rumblers and speed breakers have not been put properly nor are they painted to caution motorists of their existence.
He also pointed out to the regular traffic jams at Cortalim and Agassaim junctions, which are caused by the bad condition of roads and poor traffic management. On this note, he added that while vehicles suffer wear and tear, the commuter is also forced to waste hours of their time stuck in traffic. He further said that there are inadequate parking spaces at govt offices.
In view of these failures, he said the fines have to be reduced and demanded that its implementation should be from October 2020 instead of January 2020 as by then Goans will hopefully get proper motorable roads.
He questioned the BJP govt’s hurry to implement the new MV Act in Goa instead of addressing other serious issues and accused BJP of fleecing Goans to push its unfriendly development projects in Goa.
