PONDA: Goa’s ‘killer’ roads continue to snuff out lives. Despite the Traffic Police imposing heavy fines on violators, the number of fatalities increased on roads across Ponda taluka as 27 persons lost their lives in accidents reported last year.
If one looks at data of the past two years, in 2021, 25 lost their lives in road accidents while 26 fatalities were reported in 2022.
In 2023, 27 lost their lives besides 36 were seriously injured and 62 others escaped with minor injuries. A total of 157 accidents were reported in 2023 as 283 vehicles were involved including 130 bikes.
According to Pondaites, besides rash driving and traffic violations, bad roads, narrow highways from Banastarim to Bhoma, Kundaim, Usgao–Dharbandora and Borim need to be improved and widened to prevent accidents.
However, at some places, following agitation by locals, road improvement work is progressing at Kundaim and Khandepar respectively.
The Ponda locals have been demanding that the accident prone road from Dhavlim to Farmagudi Circle be improved.
The three innocent lives were snuffed out while three others were seriously injured in the horrific Banastarim accident. The Mardol Police too faced heavy criticism in handling the case and the people even launched a morcha demanding thorough investigation.
A few months ago, at Kundaim-Manaswada slope, a truck driver lost control of his vehicle and rammed it into a general store, which left one dead and several others injured.
The locals staged rasta roko demanding that the bypass be widened to divert the traffic from the village the work of which is currently underway.
Following two accidents at Khandepar junction, the locals suggested that the route be made one-way which was implemented last week.
A traffic police official said traffic violations, drunken driving besides bad roads, are the main causes of accidents. In case of bad roads, the traffic police recommend to PWD for improving the road conditions after inspecting the accident spot. The drivers need to follow rules to minimize accidents.
Ponda resident Vishal Fadte said, “More than 45,000 drivers have been issued fines for violations but do police have figures to show how much efforts have been made to improve the condition of roads. Not only fines but also roads need to be improved and black spots need to be cleared.”
He said at many places speed breakers are not painted or marked and signboards at Khadpabandh junction are covered with grown up bushes.
He said that unless roads are improved and highways are not widened it is difficult to minimise accidents.
