MARGAO, APRIL 19
Members of the South Goa District Traffic Committee met on Monday to tackle the growing traffic problem plaguing the Commercial Capital, but there’s no big news from the panel, except the same old suggestions to develop the traffic islands, banning handcarts and kiosks along the main roads and to experiment with traffic signals at traffic bottlenecks.
If the district Magistrate, G P Naik, heading the Traffic Committee is to be believed, the panel has recommended to the Margao Municipal Council to crack down on handcarts along the highway from Davondem to Navelim, along the eastern bypass and the congested road from Mungul-Colva circle-Swimming pool road. “This is being recommended as the entry and exit roads from the city are congested due to the heavy presence of traffic, including domestic tourists. The crack down on handcarts would ensure free movement of traffic on the roads”, he added.
Naik said the meeting discussed the issues concerning the development of traffic island right from the Goa Rajee junction, and the junctions at Arlem, Davorlim, Munj Vihar and Rawanfond etc. “The traffic department has experimented with the development of these traffic development and the notifications will be issued soon to make them permanent islands”, he added.
The meeting discussed the old issue of installing traffic signals at prominent places and the District Magistrate has suggested that a signal be installed at the Old Market circle on an experimental basis.
The panel discussed the traffic situation at Nuvem and it was suggested to introduce bus bays to tackle the congestion on the roads along the highway.
The Magistrate has issued strict instruction to the Margao Municipal Council not to issue any permission or license for the setting up of kiosk near the newly-developed traffic junctions. “The panel expects the MMC to come down with a heavy hand on handcarts along the main roads and kiosks illegally set up near the traffic islands”, he added.
Meanwhile, Naik informed that the Committee has recommended to the PWD, Div 25 to examine the possibility of creating a traffic island at Tilamol, Quepem.
Terming the situation in the mining hit belt in Quepem much better after the introduction of checks on mining traffic, the district Magistrate, however, said that certain measures need to be taken on the Sirvoi side of Quepem, adding that the authorities will approach the local Devasthan to make available open space for parking of mining trucks.
