Says govt committed to reduce accident rate; opens Fatorda Traffic PS and installs 3 interceptors
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inaugurating the Fatorda Traffic police station and the interceptors at Fatorda in the presence of Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, DGP Alok Kumar and others.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Asserting that 70 per cent of road accidents in the State are linked to rent-a-car and rent-a-bike used by tourists, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday called for strict enforcement of traffic rules and public cooperation to bring down the accident rate in the State.
Speaking after inaugurating the 17th Traffic Police Station at Fatorda, besides three state-of-the-art interceptors in the presence of Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, DGP Alok Kumar and senior police officials, the Chief Minister said the government is committed to reduce the accident rate, more so with Goa having the highest people-vehicle ratio in the country. “Traffic indiscipline by the rented vehicles by tourists has contributed to 70 per cent of the accidents in the State. We have to ensure strict enforcement of the traffic rules to bring down the accident rate. Besides, I seek the cooperation of the public in this task,” he said, adding that the traffic authorities are on the job for the cancellation of registration of the erring rented vehicles.
The Chief Minister expressed his concern over the accident death rate in the State, with the State recording around 365 deaths a year, almost one death per day on an average. “Pedestrians also constitute a significant number of deceased in the road accidents for no fault of theirs. We have to make walking safe for the pedestrians,” he added.
Saying his government is committed to give a boost to infrastructure in all sectors, the Chief Minister said the Fatorda police station inaugurated on Thursday will help in curbing the accident rate in its jurisdiction. He complimented Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai for proposing to the government to set up the Fatorda traffic police station in the constituency. “The Traffic Cell will help in the overall traffic management and save lives of the people through monitoring,” he added.
The Chief Minister said the Fatorda traffic police station is a step towards strengthening traffic management and public safety in the region. “With real-time monitoring capabilities, enhanced coordination systems, and community engagement mechanisms, the new cell is poised to play a crucial role in ensuring smoother, safer roads for all,” he added.
In his address, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said he had asked for traffic police station in Fatorda when other MLAs had been raising a demand for shut down of traffic cells in their respective areas. “The objective behind asking for a police station is to instill road discipline and ensure public safety. In Fatorda, I had got the roads widened, but they are getting narrower for vehicular traffic and pedestrians with unauthorised parking. We have to ensure the safety of the pedestrians as well as general public,” he said.
Crackdown on illegal rentals: 500 private vehicles face deregistration
MARGAO: Confirming that over 500 private vehicles were found operating as rental vehicles by the traffic enforcement agency, Superintendent of Police, Traffic Prabodh Shirwaikar has said that the department has initiated steps for the cancellation of registration of these vehicles.
The statement made by the SP, Traffic has virtually confirmed the statement made by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant that the rental vehicles are contributing to 70 per cent of the accident rate in the State.
