MAPUSA
Raising concerns over increasing road accidents in Vasco da Gama, Goa, MLA Krishna Salkar on Tuesday urged the government to take urgent measures to improve safety at the busy Varunapuri Junction.
Speaking during Zero Hour in the Goa Legislative Assembly, Salkar said residents and commuters are living in fear due to frequent accidents on the Varunapuri stretch, largely caused by the movement of heavily loaded trucks from the nearby Mormugao Port Authority.
He pointed out that a large number of trucks pass through the stretch at high speed, posing a serious threat to pedestrians and motorists. The situation is further aggravated by the absence of speed breakers and other traffic-calming measures on the road.
Salkar said the junction witnesses heavy pedestrian movement throughout the day, including schoolchildren, senior citizens, workers and daily commuters, making it imperative for authorities to act immediately.
He urged the government and departments concerned to regulate the speed of heavy vehicles and install speed breakers and other traffic safety mechanisms to prevent further accidents.
The MLA also suggested that, in the long term, constructing a flyover at Varunapuri junction could provide a permanent solution to the growing traffic congestion and safety concerns. He requested that authorities such as National Highways Authority of India conduct an urgent inspection of the area and examine the feasibility of the project.
Responding to the concern, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho acknowledged that Varunapuri has become a crucial junction where a large volume of vehicles converge.
He said the matter would be taken up with the Public Works Department and that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant could also raise the issue with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for further consideration.
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Modified bike silencers creating nuisance: MLA
MAPUSA: Concern over the growing menace of modified motorbikes creating loud explosive noises on roads was raised in the Goa Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, with an MLA urging the government to take stringent action against offenders.
Chandrakant Shetye, MLA from Bicholim, drew the attention of the House to the increasing frustration among residents, particularly senior citizens, due to the nuisance caused by bikers using modified silencers and kill switches to produce loud and disturbing sounds.
Shetye said such activities are frequently witnessed in otherwise peaceful residential areas, where miscreants rev their engines and deliberately create explosive noises on roads, causing distress and disturbance to the public.
He noted that the situation has left many residents feeling helpless and demanded that the government treat the issue as a matter of urgency.
The MLA suggested the creation of a dedicated helpline to enable citizens to easily report such incidents and urged authorities to impose strict penalties on those found violating the law in order to restore peace and safety on the roads.
Responding to the concern, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said the department had conducted enforcement drives against such violations in the past.
“We will take action again,” the minister assured the House, indicating that the government would initiate fresh measures to curb the nuisance caused by modified motorbikes.
