Navelim, Salcete junction is dogged with traffic congestion on a daily basis. Though authorities have talked about many solution, till date nothing has solved this problem. Since the Parish Church, two secondary schools, a government primary school, a college, banks, post office, markets etc, are all located within a 150 meters radius from the junction, the congestion is expected.
The following steps some by RTO and some by people should ease out our traffic problem to some extent –the RTO should ban heavy traffic at peak hours from 7.30 to 8.30 am and also from 12.30 pm to 2pm. As a numbers of colleges students bring bikes for classes, the college start timings should, if feasible, be advanced or postponed by 15 minutes so that the timings do not clash with school timings. The parents should not pickup/drop theirs wards right at the school gate but park their two or four wheeler at least 150 meters away from the junction and walk remaining distance to pick up their kids.
People coming from Aquem should park their bikes near Bank of Baroda or people from Dialgona or Coldem should park them at new panchayat building and those coming from Telaulim/Sinquetim should park their vehicles near Rosary school ground. This traffic etiquette should also be followed by those people who come to buy provisions at the market or those who come to pay electricity or telephone bills at peak hours.
The Navelim Panchayat should ensure that underground subway, which was constructed, is maintained properly and there is no water logging there during monsoon so that children, church goers and general public utilize it.
My solution is that at least 150 meters radius around the junction there should be a voluntary walking zone observed by people. If we all follow these simple rules, we might to some extent ease daily traffic congestion that occurs at Navelim junction and save some fuel and time in the bargain.
