Traffic signals elude Margao

Strange it may seem, but true that the commercial capital has been knocking the doors of successive governments for traffic signals for over half-a-decade now. The objective was two-fold: To streamline and regulate traffic around the half-a-dozen odd traffic junctions and to overcome the manpower constraints plaguing the traffic and transport departments.

Traffic junctions and circles which are in dire need of signals to streamline traffic flow include the Old Market circle, the Bolshe circle, Munj Vihar junction, Nehru Stadium junction and the Kohinoor junction near the Margao Municipal building.

Herald inquiries have revealed that the Margao Traffic Cell had first moved the file to the government around the year 2008, proposing installation of signals on the strategic junctions. Sources say that it’s only recently, that the Traffic cell received a communication stating that work on installation of traffic signals will now be taken up the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation.

Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai sounded critical of the government’s apathy towards the need for traffic signals in the city.

 “I am told that the file pertaining to the traffic signals have not evoked a positive response from the government since the last three years. The file has been coming back for want of funds. If funds are a problem, then I can arrange funds for the signals or we can seek sponsorship from Corporate houses,” Sardesai told Transport Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar at the launch of the National Road Safety week on Monday.

Margao MLA Digambar Kamat echoed similar sentiments. “Chaos prevails at the Old Market Circle for want of traffic regulation. The government should initiate steps to install signals at the traffic junctions at the earliest,” he said.

A senior traffic police officer said that traffic signals have been functioning successfully in cities such as Bangalore and Belgaum. 

“There’s no harm in installing a few signals on experimental basis with sponsorship from corporate bodies under corporate social responsibility,” he added.