Consumer rights activist Lorna Fernandes raised alarm over persistent road safety issues in South Goa during the recent District Road Safety Committee meeting, highlighting the growing dangers posed by stray cattle, illegal vendors, and administrative inaction.
She also drew attention to the ongoing sale of substandard and fake helmets, which pose a major risk to two-wheeler riders. Despite awareness of the issue, regulatory action has been lacking.
Fernandes criticised the lack of progress despite a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with an NGO to manage stray cattle on roads. She noted the absence of a clear action plan and a public engagement strategy—particularly the failure to inform citizens about how to report stray animals or contact the NGO for swift intervention in high-risk zones.
Beyond the cattle menace, Fernandes also highlighted the unchecked proliferation of illegal roadside vending, which continues to obstruct highways and endanger motorists. She expressed concern that repeated committee resolutions have gone unimplemented, with enforcement agencies failing to act. “Authorities collecting fees from roadside vendors creates a false sense of legitimacy and undermines enforcement,” she argued.