Traffic snarls plague road-users at Cortalim jn

PANJIM: Even as the elevated expressway being constructed across the State has begun to take shape, traffic snarls at arterial junctions located along the National Highway, especially  Cortalim junction, continue to plague road-users. With the landscape of Goa’s roads changing every day, motorists in the State call for the traffic police to take steps to streamline traffic flow during peak hours, in congested areas.  

      M Shirodkar, a taxi driver suggested that more traffic police personnel be deployed on the NH-66 Agasaim-Cortalim stretch to ensure smooth flow of traffic. “Delays and slow moving traffic in this section have become major problem on any given day. There are incidents when people proceeding to the Dabolim airport have missed their flights as they were stuck in the traffic jams”, added Shirodkar.Shirodkar suggested that instead of deploying police only at the Cortalim circle, the police should also be deployed at common junctions to ensure smooth flow of vehicles. 

Motorists who overtake, drive recklessly and block the opposite lanes while driving on National Highways cause mishaps, Shirodkar said, suggesting that permanent barricades be put up at this stretch to reduce traffic jams. “I have been driving since last 35 years but never before I had come across such traffic mismanagement. A stretch between Cortalim and Agasaim that requires hardly 20 minutes to cross is today taking around an hour due to traffic mismanagement”, he added.However, DySP (Traffic) Prabodh Shirwaikar said the necessary arrangements have been made by the traffic cell to ensure smooth flow of vehicles both, at the Agassaim-Cortalim stretch and also at the MES College junction where major traffic jam occur. “We have deployed police staff at the traffic-congestion prone areas and at the black spots”, added DySP Shirwaikar. 

Vasudev Naik, a commuter who travels daily  from Panjim to Margao said the major traffic congestion that takes place on Cortalim-Agasaim stretch is due to haphazard driving by the taxi drivers. “Addition and removal of lanes as per the requirement of police confuses the motorists and two-wheelers which results in accidents”, he added.Nixon Gomes,  who travels to Vasco via Verna on daily basis stated the improper functioning of traffic signals is the main reason behind traffic congestion. He suggested that a surveillance camera be installed at Verna junction to keep a close watch on those who break the traffic rules”.