MARGAO
Citizens participating at the first Margao Municipal Road Safety & Traffic Management Committee offered a host of suggestions to the civic and other authorities in order to streamline traffic in the commercial capital.
Prof Suvarna Fonseca said the government should make first aid training mandatory for the riders and drivers before they are issued licence by the Transport Department. She said the Telangana authorities have made first aid training mandatory before issuance of licences.
Activist Jose Maria Miranda made a strong demand for construction of parking lots in the city, behind the MMC building and at the pick-up stand area to tide over acute parking problems. While calling for introducing pay parking where regular parking is observed, Miranda further called for exploring the possibility of pedestrianising certain areas during the festive season.
Former student leader, Mohandas Lolienkar underscored the need for the government to change its mindset vis-à-vis road safety and traffic management. Instead of focusing on enforcement, purely to gain more revenue from traffic violations, the traffic and transport department should focus on regulating traffic.
He also called for government intervention to spruce up the old Margao bus stand if fund is an issue.
Margao Municipal BJP councillor Mahesh Amonkar drew attention of the chairperson to the presence of kiosks in parking areas, forcing citizens to park in no parking areas, and hauled up for violations.
He said the rent-a-bikes continue to be parked around the MMC building despite the issue discussed at the MMC meeting.
BJP councillor Camilo Barretto suggested removal of speed breakers in certain areas of Fatorda if they are not backed by any notification from the district authorities. Councillor Milagrina Gomes highlighted traffic congestion on the road at Agalli due to the presence of schools in the locality.
Former councillor Ketan Kurtarkar highlighted the issue of haphazard parking along the narrow roads and lanes in the Comba locality, playing host to schools, higher secondary schools and colleges.
MMC Vice-Chairperson Deepali Sawal raised the issue of a repair workshop that has come up in her ward with the vehicles kept for sale along the roadside.
