Team Herald
PANJIM: After receiving several complaints and accidents being reported on this iconic Atal Setu, special red-radar monitors have been installed at this bridge to monitor the over speeding and lane discipline on this four-lane cabled bridge. Now, your speed cannot exceed about 50 km/ph.
PI Brandon D’Souza said that due to over speeding and several accidents being reported on this bridge, this step was taken. D’Souza said, “We have set up a red-radar machine for the first time near the Atal Setu landing. A lot of accidents take place here due to over speeding. This has been installed as a preventative measure and it’ll be a routine so that people are aware and drive within the speed limit. Since morning we have been recording maximum violations. The machine also has the ability to capture images and it has captured 14 violations for which we will send challans. As of now there are 7 speed radar machines in Goa.”
But installations of these speed red-radars have raised the eyebrows of several commuters, especially as the bridge is in the headlines due to the potholes and its conditions.
Speaking on this issue, a local from Panjim, Dattaraj Pednekar said, “There was no need to install and keep speed red-radar monitors on this bridge as one can’t drive at a speed of 50 km/ph as the wind is also high that driving slow is not possible.”
He also said that speed limit must be increased on this bridge. Speaking on the condition of the road he said that first the road of this bridge needs to be repaired and then such technology should be introduced.
Another commuter travelling from South to the North, Claudia D’Souza said “Looking at the number of potholes and also the uneven road of this bridge, we commuters are forced to drive at speed less than 50km/hr.” She said this is just to make the cars go slow and to hide the reality of driving on this bridge.
A senior citizen Jorson Pereira from Majorda, passing through the bridge, said the road connectivity is good in Goa now but the quality is bad. Giving an example of the past he said that he was happy with the old styled roads during his good old day; the more infrastructure the worst conditions we can see.
