Traffic signals or traffic lights are a set of automatically operated coloured lights, typically red, amber, and green, for controlling traffic at road junctions, pedestrian crossings, and roundabouts.
A visit to Mapusa reveals that at some junctions there are no traffic signals and at places where they exist the same are non-functional, which has resulted in traffic congestion in the town.
Currently, Mapusa is facing many problems such as garbage, parking, bad roads etc but the major problem that has been continuously haunting the town is traffic congestion as most roads in Mapusa are narrow and to add to this the number of vehicles is increasing day by day. One can witness traffic snarls especially during the peak hours.
Residents blame the traffic police for failing in their duties in manning the traffic. The traffic signals at court junction, at major cross junctions in the town are working but the ones near the Gandhi circle are not functioning.
Buildings have come up at corner points of each internal road, which are narrow and as such there is no much space to widen these roads. Another reason for the traffic congestion in the town is violation of rules. Most motorists violate traffic rules by entering via the one-way route in the opposite direction and this causes traffic congestion.
Besides the town, another major junction, which is in urgent need of traffic signals, is the Bastora junction. This junction along the NH17 connects Mapusa with Bastora and other villages including Aldona. The road is also used by the commuters from Bicholim, Mayem and Moira to reach their workplaces in Mapusa and Panjim respectively.
In the absence of a traffic signal two traffic cops are posted on duty at the Bastora junction but they have failed in controlling the ever-increasing traffic along the route. And to make matters worse PWD work of constructing a flyover has further aggravated the situation. The electricity cables have been removed. The residents of Bastora have complained of frequent power cuts and this too has caused minor accidents especially during the night.
The bus stop at the Mapusa market and near the Suraj Book Stall junction too witnessed traffic congestion. The junction near the Suraj Book Stall is a one-way route which connects various internal roads and several times the riders violate traffic rules by entering the other way round.
Mapusa Traffic PI Tushar Vernekar, says, “We have already written a letter to Mapusa Municipal Council requesting them to restart the traffic signals installed at Gandhi Circle and to install signals at other major junctions where there is huge flow of traffic”.
Chairperson of Mapusa Municipal Council Rohan Kavlekar says “We have received a letter from Traffic Cell requesting us to start the traffic signals at Gandhi Circle and at other locations. During the last council meeting, a resolution to restart traffic signals near court junction has already been passed and another two letters which we have received today will be discussed at the next council meeting to be held next month”.
