PANJIM: The Movement of Amity towards Road in Goa (MARG) has said that the action plan to curb accidents and road deaths, which was promised to be finalised and implemented by the government from December 1, 2022, has not seen the light of day.
“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at a meeting of stakeholders and traffic police officials at Institute Menezes Braganza, Panjim October 21, 2022, had stated that an action plan would be implemented. The aim was to either stop or reduce accidental deaths to the least,” Anant Agni, Member Secretary MARG Trust told O Heraldo.
Agni said, “Now not only December 1, but January 1, and February 1, have passed and very soon it will be March 1 (three months), but the action plan is still not ready. In the past one-and-half month, from January 1, 2023 till date there have been an average of one death per day in the New Year.”
Agni said, “The average age of those who die in accidents is between 25 and 28 years. Is the government not vigilant or are government departments not concerned about this loss of young lives?”
Agni said that according to Goa Police statistics, Goa’s average increase of vehicle population is between 60,000 and 70,000 (which is the highest in the country), but the width of the roads and road safety does not increase with the increase in vehicle population.
Agni asked, “Is there no coordination between the Transport, Police and PWD?”
“If government is serious, it has to not only publish but implement the Action Plan for Road Safety as soon as possible. The RTO, Police and the PWD have to work with responsibility only then will deaths reduce. Let us usher in a good road culture and reduce deaths,” Agni added.
