Team Herald
MARGAO: Ahead of road safety week that will be observed in Margao from May 15 till May 21, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) announced that a CCTV camera surveillance system will be installed across the town and that the work will begin shortly, in a phased manner. It was pointed out that Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar had recommended this project under a Central government scheme to the South Goa District Collector.
The issue of CCTV cameras along with various other traffic management-related initiatives were discussed at the recently held road safety and traffic management committee’s meeting of the civic body that has members of the public and NGOs on it. GOACAN convenor Roland Martins was happy that the meeting resulted in positive outcomes in terms of long-standing traffic related issues in Margao in the interest of the public. He however criticised the PWD for their handling of zebra crossings while the members of the public also criticised PWD for not attending the meeting given that many of the issues raised came under PWD’s purview. At the meeting, it was also decided that the council body should pass a resolution for initiating pay parking in Margao on a trial basis to prevent motorists from parking their vehicles for days together.
The issue of where rent-a-car vehicles are being parked was also reviewed with directions given to notify the traffic police and RTO about such vehicles blocking parking space.
Some of the councillors also wanted action against private buses that make multiple stops on roads that see heavy traffic on a daily basis thereby adding to the traffic congestion.
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‘Defunct signals cause traffic chaos in Margao’
MARGAO: Commuters and road-users in Margao are fed up
with non-functional traffic signals that have caused chaos for the last few months. Despite claims and promises from local politicians, the problem persists, leaving citizens frustrated and demanding action.
‘Promises and lies’ have become the norm at the Margao Municipal Council, according to Savio Coutinho, convenor of Shadow Council for Margao. He criticized the council for inspecting traffic signals, only to have them work for a day or two before failing again. The absence of consistently functional signals at key junctions such as Fatorda stadium,
Bolshe Circle, Arlem junction, and even the Old market circle has caused traffic chaos, requiring traffic police to step in.
SCM has appealed to the patron of the Council, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, to devote attention to this issue.
“At a time when Kamat has the privilege to line up all
the officials of MMC at his residence every morning,
why does he have to visit the Council to issue directions?” questioned Coutinho.
