Panjim: As many as 1,000 personnel were deployed across the State on the New Year’s Eve with special traffic arrangements made to regulate movement of vehicles.
Several thousand tourists including film celebrities and drive-in revelers from neighbouring States have descended in the State to usher in the New Year.
With the New Year coinciding with the weekend, the Goa Police have decided to retain the traffic arrangements till January 5, 2021 to avoid inconvenience to the residents as well as the tourists exiting the State.
“We have drawn an additional 300 personnel to the existing strength of traffic police. The entire staff is working in three shifts, round the clock to facilitate movement of people,” Superintendent of Police (SP) (Traffic) Arvind Gawas told Herald.
The SP has been personally inspecting the traffic scenario across Colva, Benaulim, Margao, Canacona, Vasco, Calangute among other places. He assured that traffic movements are being handled by the policemen posted at various points in addition to busy locations.
As the arrangement will continue till January 5, Gawas said that serious violations that may cause accidents such as over speeding and drunken driving are being strictly monitored. “It doesn’t mean that other violations are being overlooked. We are working round the clock to ensure everyone’s safety,” he added.
The Traffic Department has also created additional parking spaces to cater to hundreds of vehicles from other States. Additional signages and illumination at parking places have also been taken care of.
