MARGAO: The traffic island near the power house junction as well as the truck terminus in Margao are yet to see the light of day, thanks to bureaucratic red tapes. The half-done traffic island has now become an unofficial truck terminus for all interstate trucks.
In the last 30 years, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has passed resolutions for the truck terminus and even resolved to acquire land, but it has been left stranded due to lack of support from the State government. As a result, the work of the truck terminus hasn’t even started.
Meanwhile, the condition of the traffic island on the National Highway is deplorable. In 2010, to prevent accidents, then South Goa Collector Gokuldas Naik had planned for a huge traffic island at the power house junction. Four District Collectors have come and gone since, but the work remains incomplete. Trucks are parked all around the island, giving it the appearance of a truck terminus.
Margao is considered to be the commercial capital of Goa, and several people have set up their businesses across the town. Raw materials or finished products for these businesses are brought to Margao daily through trucks.
Trucks are prohibited from entering the town during the day. If one enters even by mistake, the traffic police are ready to fine them. The closest place for the truckers to halt is the power house junction; they park and rest at the traffic island until nightfall.
As per the Collector’s order, the traffic police have prohibited parking of heavy vehicles in the vicinity of the island. Despite this, the truckers continue to park their vehicles there, creating a nuisance for motorists. The Margao traffic cell seems have turned a blind eye to the issue, and the people now smell a rat.
When asked, Executive Engineer (Division 6) Ratnakar Challan said that he doesn’t know about any half-done traffic island in his division and added that he has recently taken charge of the post. According to records, he has taken charge three months ago.
The Public Works Department (PWD) spent lakhs of rupees building this traffic island with the aim of facilitating smooth movement of traffic and reducing accidents. Sadly, in the last five years, not even 50 percent of island has been completed, and in the last one year, no work has been done. The absence of a traffic island has taken a toll on the safety of motorists and commuters.
Several roads from Margao, the adjoining railway station and village panchayats connect to the power house junction, making it the most critical, elaborate and a highly busy junction of Margao. For this reason it was decided to have a traffic island at the junction.
The fallout of the unfinished island is an alarming increase in accidents in the area. When asked about the same, the Engineer redirects to the assistant engineer.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Prabodh Shirwaikar said, “The inspection of the junction and a plan for the traffic island was made a long time ago. The work had also begun. However, when and how the work stopped, only the engineers of the area can tell.”
He also informed that a proposal for the expansion and widening of the road has been given to the Collector in view of the ever-increasing traffic at the junction.
