And despite a stern reminder in February, the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) is still dragging its feet to implement the 1989 notification to mark Zebra Crossing areas for the safety of people in the port town.
The MMC’s indifferent attitude is surprising especially since the rash movement of heavy vehicles in Vasco city has led to a number of fatal road mishaps in recent times.
Adding insult to injury is the action of the Vasco Traffic Cell in posting police personnel along accident-prone zones, only have them removed a few days later. As a result, the pedestrians have been at the mercy of heavy vehicles.
In February, South Goa Collector Venancio Furtado had directed the MMC chief officer to implement the government’s notification No. 5/28/88/TPT (Part) dated September 26, 1989 to mark Zebra Crossings zones at 29 different places, right from starting St Andrew’s Junction at Vasco to Sanjeevini Hospital in Baina.
Incidentally, the MMC has failed to implement the notification and it was only after Herald followed up the issue, former MMC chief officer Megnath Porob directed the contractor to complete the work, failing which the tender would be revoked.
The contractor partially adhered to Porob’s notice and only marked Zebra Crossing zones on two roads, one at the railway station junction and the incomplete marking near the old bus stand junction.
According to MMC sources, the estimated cost was 3,69,340, but the Mapusa-based contractor got the tender by quoting 4.83% above the estimated cost.
“The work order was issued on May 8, 2013 and the contractor was given 30 days to complete the work. However, the contractor has failed to complete the marking of the Zebra Crossing zones within the stipulated time frame,” said the source.
“Then, a fresh agreement was signed on February 21 this year, as the earlier agreement was scheduled to expire on March 21. Despite signing the new agreement, the contractor failed to carry out the work. On October 17, the MMC issued a notice to the contractor to start the work, failing which the tender would be withdrawn. The irony is that the contractor started the work, but stopped it within a day,” the source added.
“The incomplete Zebra Crossing at the JMFC court is dangerous, as only one of the two roads is marked with Zebra Crossing marks. The other side of the road has not been marked,” remarked a senior citizen, Maria Cardozo.
Added Anil Rawal, another resident, “The Zebra Crossing zone is the need of the hour, given the sharp rise in vehicles and the resultant threat to pedestrians. Authorities should have blacklisted the contractor as he has failed to complete the Zebra Crossing zones the stipulated time period.”
When contacted, a PWD official informed Herald that the work carried out by the contractor was of low standard.
“Instead of applying two coats of white florescent rubberised coats for the Zebra Crossing zones, the contactor applied only one coat which will get worn out due to the constant movement of the heavy and other vehicles,” said the official.
Reminded about the status of Zebra Crossing zones in Vasco, the new MMC Chief Officer J Bhingui said he had summoned the contractor and had directed him to complete the work within the next two days.
“The contractor has informed me that the machinery has broken down and he has ordered for new machinery from Mumbai to mark the Zebra Crossing zones. The contractor assured to complete the work by the end of the week,” said Bhingui.
