Traffic cell cites limited infrastructure, staff shortage for inability to manage traffic jams
the goan I network
VASCO
Reacting to frequent traffic jams along the Cortalim circle and Zuari bridge, Vasco Traffic Cell (VTC) claims to have a limited infrastructure available and can’t do much except for regulating traffic during massive traffic jams.
Officials of VTC have also said staff shortage is a factor confronting them
in proper traffic management during such logjams.
When contacted, a VTC official feared that going by the present state of affairs, traffic jams could be witnessed during the entire month of December, which could continue till around January 15.
“After the massive traffic jam on Saturday, the SP and DySP of traffic had inspected the area to ascertain the reasons for the traffic jam. There are many reasons for traffic jams. There are several bottlenecks and crossings at various locations like Agassaim bypass, Agassaim police station, Cortalim junction, Ponda route etc.”
“Besides, there are many functions and events during this time of the year and vehicles from all over the State travel along this route, significantly increasing the volume of traffic,” said the official.
“In such instances, even if there are no accidents or breakdowns, traffic jams are likely to happen because everyone is in a mad rush.”
“Secondly, the timing of vehicles leaving from Verna Industrial units and the peak time of Dabolim Airport add to extra vehicles, culminating at the Cortalim Circle and adding to it, we had the recent IFFI celebrations, ongoing novenas at Old Goa and football matches at Fatorda,” said the official.
Commenting on traffic management, the official said not much could be done with the infrastructure available to VTC.
“With the available infrastructure, we cannot do much and we have to maintain single-lane traffic along the Margao-Panjim route from the Cortalim circle. The Zuari bridge is also a single lane traffic and there is no alternative and this being festive season, the volume of vehicles on the road goes up and hence there is possibility of traffic jam even without accidents,” said the official.
“Sometimes, we have barricades and try to maintain discipline, but there are times when three queues of traffic form on one lane. Even if an ambulance tries to make its way, there is immediately another lane formed behind the ambulance and this causes bottlenecks.”
“There are lanes of vehicles even on road shoulders leaving virtually no space for regulation of traffic,” said the official.
The VTC official also said staff shortage had exerted extra pressure on the workforce, but added that there had
been demands for additional staff to regulate traffic.
“We are managing with the staff that we have at our disposal. We have two shifts of staff. They have to face a lot of heat and dust pollution, even though DBL sprinkles water on the roads.”
“The staff has to be stationed at the junctions and at intersections. We usually have staff from 7 am to 1 pm and 1 pm to 8 pm, but in case of traffic jams, they could be on duty till about 10 pm or till the traffic is cleared,” explained the
official.
