MARGAO: The fleet of growing number of vehicles every month has literally put a pressure on the city in Salcete and with narrow roads and hardly any parking space around, the number of road mishaps are just rising.
The issue is turning troublesome for the city fathers who have failed to handle the vexatious issue as the roads are yet to be widened and there is hardly any parking space. This has only added to the growing number of road accidents.
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Police records state that during the first five months of this year, 18 fatal mishaps have been reported.. Besides there were several others who sustained injuries in 27 other accidents in Salcete villages including Margao and Fatorda .
Some roads in Fatorda constituency have been widened and a traffic island is functioning at Gogal to ease traffic congestion but however it provides little or no relief to people.
Public in general feel that though some roads have been widened and some traffic islands have been added in various areas, this has failed to keep pace with of growth of traffic here.
It is reportedly learnt that over 7,000 vehicles pass through the Margao city in the morning every hour and despite of signals, there is heavy traffic congestion at the Gogol Housing Board junction, near Hospicio Hospital, Borda, Khareband, Navelim road, Aquem, Rawanfond and also in the heart of the city.
Tulsidas Raiker, a prominent citizen said that the increasing number of vehicles, narrow roads, no road markings, presence of non-motorised traffic on the sides of the already narrow roads, lack of traffic signals at many intersections and inadequate police personnel to regulate the traffic, has resulted in traffic chaos.
Sources in the police and traffic cell said that they have penalised offenders for violating rules while those driving in drunken stupor were heavily fined too.
