PONDA: In just 11 months, the State has collected at least Rs 1.61 crore towards fines for traffic violations in the Ponda Taluka. While the exponential increase in collections is largely due to the enhanced fines under the new Motor Vehicles Act, exasperated motorists say at least a part of it should be used towards providing safer and motorable roads.
Umesh Naik, a regular commuter, said most of Ponda’s roads are in a miserable condition and that “patchwork” is the only mode of repair the government has been undertaking. “It is alright to collect fines, but when will the roads improve?” he said.
Around 41,000 traffic violations have been registered across the taluka over the past 11 months.
“The fine for helmetless riding has been increased from Rs 100 to Rs 1,000. Riders are expected to pay up for flouting the rule, but why are they made to suffer and ruin their health while they travel on the bumpy roads in Ponda?” another motorist asked.
Social activist Viraj Sapre, who has been doggedly monitoring potholes roads and filing complaints with the authorities – particularly about the dilapidated condition of the crucial Bethora bypass road – asked why only commuters should be penalised.
“So many lives have been lost due to bad roads, so it is only fair that the officials concerned should be pulled up too,” he reasoned.
Echoing his views, Vishal Fadte, another social worker said many roads in the Ponda Taluka need urgent government attention.
When contacted, PWD officials said the roads at Ponda will be hot-mixed soon. They attributed the delay to pending infrastructure works such as the laying of the sewerage network.
“Tenders for road work in various panchayats of the Ponda Taluka have been floated. Work will begin by December,” an official said.
