MAPUSA: Traffic congestion is a regular feature in Mapusa and during peak hours, the chaotic situation at the major junctions such as the Gandhi Circle, Maruti temple, old municipality, Mapusa Court, Aldona bus stop and at the cross roads at Duler haunt motorists.
Over 50,000 vehicles enter and exit the commercial city which hosts the famous Friday market, government offices and commercial complexes which caters to the whole of Bardez and neighbouring talukas. During festive days, the number of people and vehicles entering here is even higher.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Loitering stray cattle, unplanned footpaths, non implementation of traffic rules and importantly inactive traffic signals are the major causes of traffic congestion in Mapusa.
“Most of the roads in Mapusa do not have footpaths and wherever there are footpaths, hawkers and shopkeepers have encroached forcing pedestrians to walk on the roads making it difficult for vehicles to move freely,” said a senior citizen.
The failure of the authorities to fix traffic signals at most of the important junctions only speaks volumes of how the Mapusa civic body caters to the basic needs of the citizens.
“There is a need for traffic signals at every junction because it is not possible to control the traffic especially during the peak hours,” a daily commuter Sushant Naik said.
“The authorities have failed to solve the vexatious issue. The traffic signals hardly work and as a result people drive their vehicles rashly making it
difficult for pedestrians to crossing the road,” Dinesh Harmalkar a resident said.
“The MMC does not know how to do holistic and all round development of the town. Repairs of traffic signals, gardens and footpaths should not be held back for want of CSR or sponsorship,” Councillor Shashank Narvekar.
Some services and facilities should be prioritised regardless of whether they add to the revenue of the MMC, simply because such facilities promote safety and protection to our citizens. Unfortunately in Mapusa, personal gains are given priority over the benefits provided to citizens, said Narvekar.
