Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has issued a notice to authorities and Mapusa Municipal Council into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against the MMC for construction of footpaths along the main roads of Mapusa town.
The petition filed by Goa Foundation seeks from the court an order directing the MMC and other respondents including Public Works Department to execute a plan for erecting footpaths (including execution) for the five busy roads, which is also compliant with regulations for persons with disabilities notified for the state of Goa and to submit this plan to this Court.
It also seeks directions to ensure construction of footpaths along all the main roads of Mapusa town, especially the road between the Mapusa Altinho Circle (clock tower) and the Mapusa Bus Stand.
“The roads experience heavy traffic of all kinds. Buses, trucks, transport vehicles, cars, taxis, two-wheelers, cyclists and pedestrians regularly use this road for their daily commute. However, the authorities, in dereliction of their duties, have only catered to those with motorized forms of transport, thus neglecting cyclists and pedestrians. No provisions are made for the easy movement of those with disabilities,” states the petition.
The petitioner NGO has therefore prayed for an order directing the NGPDA to ensure that adequate facilities for pedestrians are provided for in the Mapusa ODP before it is finalised, directing respondents to prepare a plan for erecting footpaths for the five busy roads of Mapusa town, and directing the Electricity Department to submit a plan to shift electricity poles in the way of the public footpaths proposed.
