Four traffic signals make life easier for commuters on NH17

SURAJ NANDREKAR

suraj@herald-goa.com

Four signals in a span of just three kilometres have made life easier for commuters on the National Highways 17, at Porvorim.

The national highway from Mandovi Bridge to Guirim junction had become an accident-prone zone. As per statistics available with the traffic police, over 50,000 vehicles ply on this stretch every day.

In 2014, 309 accidents took place in the jurisdiction of Porvorim Police, out of which 12 were fatal and 34 were serious. 

From this, 273 were car accidents. Besides, there were innumerable minor accidents, which were settled mutually by the involved parties. In Goa, the biggest percentage of increase in accidents has been reported at Porvorim – 22.13 per cent.

To reduce accidents and avoid traffic jams, the state government had decided to install a traffic signal at O’Coqueiro junction. 

This signal was installed free-of-cost by businessman Sanjay Jain and is functioning successfully.

Bouyed by the success of this signal, the government has now installed three more signals one at Guirim junction, Holy Cross Church junction and the Teen building junction.

Four more such signals on this stretch of national highway at major traffic zones, which comprise Sai Service, Sanjay School, DIET and Alto-Porvorim bazaar and at two zebra crossings are also planned. 

The installation work of these traffic signals with countdown timers and CCTV cameras has already been completed and they have been commissioned, the latest being the Teen building signal.

Dy Superintendent of Goa Traffic Police Dharmesh Angle said that all the signals are working satisfactorily, and that motorists are observing the rules in the absence of traffic police. 

He said there is need for more such signals at major traffic congestion points on this stretch of national highway to avoid accidents. 

”The traffic signals will not only reduce accidents, but will also enable traffic police to concentrate on other areas, which are presently being neglected due to shortage of manpower,” said Angle.

Businessman Sanjay Jain confirmed that he has taken up the job of installing the traffic signals and that Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte had inspired him to do it for the benefit of the commuters. 

He stated, “The lives of humans are important than money. Khaunte, despite not being a member of the ruling party, has done a lot of development work in Porvorim constituency. The cost of installing these eight traffic signals is around Rs 50 lakh, and it includes the installation of digital counters and CCTV cameras.”

Meanwhile, Khaunte stated that traffic signals and CCTV cameras on National Highway 17 has become a need of the hour. 

He stated, “This is one of the busiest roads in Goa, and to reduce accidents, the installation of signals has become a necessity. I was pursuing the matter with the State government for a quite a long time. And I am happy a Porvorim businessman Sanjay Jain has volunteered to do this job free of cost for government. There is also a need for a traffic cell at Porvorim.”

Sandhya Naik, a daily commuter on this road said that the signals were required as many times youth use to drive in rash and negligent manner causing lot of accidents.

“I am happy the government has finally looked into the safety of commuters,” she said.

Another commuter Paresh Gaonkar says, “Why only Porvorim? There is need for such signals throughout the National Highway 17 and NH4A.”