The next time you are driving a vehicle and encounter a traffic snarl at a junction, blame the transport department, which has been sitting for over two years on a proposal from the traffic police to install 53 traffic signals. The frustration of the police was best expressed by Director General of Police Muktesh Chander who slammed the transport department for completely ignoring the plan submitted by the police. The number of vehicles in the state has gone up to nearly 11.5 lakh, but road widths have, by and large, remained the same. Congestion at junctions and circles is a regular feature and
even the presence of police personnel is not enough to bring order. Divja Circle in Panaji, which is one of the busiest, is a veritable mess during peak hours. The snarls that take place
near the KTC bus stand are even worse, despite the best efforts
of police personnel. It would seem that senior officials in
the transport department are either blind to the plight of vehicle
owners, or arrive by helicopter
to work. Alternately, they could be
aware of the issues and problems
but are able to live through this,
thanks to the thick skin acquired by
spending years in the bureaucracy.
Traffic management has been
Goa’s weakest point. If the State’s
cities are becoming weary for commuters,
it is on account of the failure
of the government and the transport department in particular.
We are aware that state transport ministers are deliberating on
changes to the motor vehicles act to give it more teeth, like a
five-fold increase in fines. All this is definitely good, but in the
meanwhile signal lights could have been installed.
One does not have to look far for a working example of traffic
signals. The system erected at O Coqueiro circle and Holy Family
Church in Porvorim, at the behest of the MLA and not the
government, has been successful in regulating traffic movement
in the area. It has brought relief to road users who obey
the signals without the need for a policeman to enforce discipline.
Consequently, another set of signals has been installed
near the petrol pump to further streamline movement of traffic.
Unfortunately, the transport department has learnt nothing
from the Porvorim experiment because it continues to sit
on the traffic management plan.
Information technology has changed the world in many
ways and a lot of this technology is being used in governance.
The mines department has effectively used GPS systems to
chart the movement of ore-laden trucks and, more importantly,
regulate speeds. Using this system, the department booked
over 500 truckers for speeding. What is stopping the transport
department from implementing the same? Lethargy? A casual
attitude to work? Or is the department packed with men who
cannot think outside the box? The more unsettling aspect is
that Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar has not found time to
intervene in the matter. Ideally, this matter should have been
taken up at the ministerial level and resolved. But it seems the
politicians are as disinterested in traffic management as bureaucrats
in the transport department.
Goa’s roads are crying out for order while the government
continues to sleep over the matter. Here is a ready-made plan
by the traffic police and all the department has to do is clear it,
in one go, or in installments. Goa cannot hope to build a smart
city or a smart state as long as it has not-so-smart bureaucrats
and politicians.
