the goan I network
VASCO
Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha and officials conducted a site inspection of internal roads in Cortalim to chalk out measures to prevent accidents and traffic congestion in the village.
Officials present at the site inspection included Mormugao Mamlatdar Satish Prabhu, DySP Sunita Sawant, Traffic PI Sudesh Narvekar, Verna PI Harish Madkaikar, PWD AE P N Naik, DBL Project Manager Arogya Sammy, Cortalim Sarpanch Angela Furtado, panch members and Cortalim Parish Priest Fr Pio Almeida. Several villagers also remained present.
During the inspection, Saldanha brought to the notice of the officials that the two roads -- Cortalim Cross Junction to Thana Junction and Sotrant to Thana Junction -- are covered under the notification prohibiting movement of heavy vehicles and called for its strict enforcement.
The MLA said officials of DBL have assured to assist PWD in erecting necessary signages at entry points to these roads.
Further, speed breakers/rumblers at various locations at Chovoth and Consua, which were proposed earlier by the panchayat, were re-inspected in the presence of officials. Velsao Traffic PI Sudesh Narvekar assured to recommend necessary speed breakers/rumblers at these locations to the Collector for notification.
The Traffic Cell also assured to monitor these internal roads to prevent violation of traffic rules.
Another stretch of road connecting NH17 to the new diversion parallel to the KRC track was shown to the authorities, as this road is regularly used by school/college students and senior residents to go to church.
Responding to fears raised by Cortalim Parish Priest and Manager of OLPS School Fr Pio Almeida, Saldanha impressed upon officials to make all arrangements along the stretch of road, keeping in mind safety of people, especially school/college students.
It was also suggested to DBL not to carry on with work on this road during school hours and this was accepted by the DBL Project Manager Arogya Sammy.
The Traffic Police were also requested to study the possibility of installing traffic signals at this place to monitor the traffic and allow pedestrians to walk safely on this road.
Later speaking to reporters, Saldanha said Friday’s site inspection was conducted after a meeting of District Road Safety Council on October 3 at the South Goa Collectorate in Margao.
“I had pointed out that the notification barring entry to heavy vehicles on two internal roads in Cortalim are not implemented and as a result many villagers had met with accidents and some had also lost their lives on these roads. The recent victim was a senior citizen, who was crushed under the wheels of a heavy vehicle,” said Saldanha.
“I am pleased that authorities present have taken note of all measures to be implemented on these roads for public safety, which also includes increasing the size of road signages to make them visible to motorists and pedestrians. Both the DBL representative and the PWD engineer have assured this will be done within a week,” said Saldanha.
