MARGAO: Margao, the bustling commercial hub of Goa, is in dire need of a traffic overhaul. With heavily-loaded vehicles making their way into the city at all hours to unload goods, traffic congestion has reached an all-time high. During peak hours, areas like Station Road, Cine Lata, Gandhi Market, and Near Old Harmandir are overrun with vehicles, creating chaos and gridlock.
Despite a restriction on heavy vehicles, as per the District Magistrate’s orders, trucks and lorries continue to ply the city’s streets, adding to the congestion. Traffic boards put up at various entry points into the city have either been vandalized or are not visible, exacerbating the problem. Even though the traffic police claim to have removed parked heavy vehicles from certain areas, they can still be spotted in other parts of Margao, causing further congestion.
According to prominent citizen Ulhas Kerker, as Margao continues to grow, its roads are becoming increasingly congested, with transit often coming to a complete standstill. “The root cause of this congestion is simply a lack of space, with narrow streets that were once meant for bicycles and motorbikes, now clogged with cars. Heavy-loaded vehicles only add to the problem, moving at a snail’s pace and causing delays during peak hours,” he pointed out.
Kerker further stated that authorities prefer to turn a blind eye to the gross violation by heavy vehicles, targeting only two and four-wheelers. Another prominent citizen, Milind Raiker, suggested that the traffic cell needs to crack down on heavy vehicles and inter-state buses, including tourist buses entering the town.
Meanwhile, the traffic police have yet to take action against unauthorised stops made by city buses when picking up passengers, at unauthorised locations. These buses make around 16-19 stops en route from the KTC bus stand into Margao town alone, taking up to 40-35 minutes to cover the stretch.
