Accident sparks off turf war between Alina, Mauvin

the goan I network
VASCO

According to reports, a road mishap involving a motorcycle and a container truck took place at the newly opened median outside Zuari Gate 3 near MES college at Sancoale.
Verna police said the container trailer (GA-08-U-8044) was driven by Rakesh Kumar Yadav, while the motorcycle (GA-06-3786) was driven by Ravi Rathod. There were no casualties in the mishap and Verna police conducted the panchanama. The traffic median was opened to public by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) four days ago and the site has already witnessed three accidents so far.
Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha later visited the accident site to take stock of the incident and said the NHAI had earlier closed the traffic median on account of many road mishaps at the site.
"This median that has been opened is a death trap as there are no signals nor speed breakers to regulate traffic."
Hitting out at those who opened the traffic median, Saldanha said: "Despite being the local MLA, I was not taken into confidence nor informed about the opening of this death trap. I wonder why this death trap was opened in the first place?"
"I was shocked to notice this median opened while travelling along this road on Tuesday night and authorities had not intimated me of this change," said Saldanha.
A furious Saldanha then convened an urgent meeting with NHAI Project Director P S Dodamani at her office later in the evening and directed him to take immediate steps to close the median.
Later speaking to the media, Dodamani admitted that NHAI had not taken Saldanha into confidence before opening the new median outside the Zuari gate along the highway. "As per NHAI norms, the median opening is illegal, but this is only a temporary opening till the time the traffic circles and islands are built at MES College Junction and at the Dabolim-Bogmalo Junction," said Dodamani.
Responding to directives from Saldanha to close the median immediately, Dodamani replied: "I am short of labourers, but this median will be closed at the earliest."

People find fault in development for public benefit: Mauvin

VASCO: Panchayat Minister and Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho, who was instrumental in opening the traffic median near Zuari Gate 3 along the highway, hit out at those who "found fault in development for the benefit of people."
On hearing news that Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha had directed the NHAI to immediately close the traffic median near Zuari Gate 3, Godinho spoke to reporters in his office to clarify his position in the matter.
"There was a long-pending demand to close the opened traffic median at Vales house junction since at least eight fatal road mishaps had occurred at the site. However, people had also requested the NHAI to open another temporary median elsewhere in the area for people to cross to to the other side of the highway."
"Pains have been taken to regulate traffic along this opened median and rumbler strips have been laid on both sides of the road to reduce the speed of vehicles."
"Sometimes, people can find faults in any development taken for benefit of people," said Godinho, indirectly hinting at Saldanha for her objection to the opened median.
Godinho, however, clarified that the opened median was only a temporary solution till the traffic circles and traffic islands were built at MES college Junction and at the Dabolim-Bogmalo Junction.
"The traffic islands and circles at both junctions will be completed within 6 months, but I am trying my best to complete it within three months.
I will also ensure that big traffic signages and signals are immediately installed at the median opening to caution motorists," he added.