MARGAO
The three defunct traffic signals installed by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai’s We for Fatorda are finally back in action, but not before Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar gave full credit to Congress-turned-BJP Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and former BJP MLA Damu Naik behind the revival of the traffic signals.
The three signals at the Boshe traffic circle, Arlem circle and the Old market circle, all located in Fatorda were all installed by the Fatorda MLA through CSR. Of the three traffic circles, the traffic signals at the Bolshe and Arlem circles had stopped functioning for some time now for want of upkeep and maintenace, triggering protests from citizens.
A week ago, Sardesai had set a seven day deadline on the Margao Municipal Council to either revive the traffic signals or offered to bear the annual cost towards the maintenance of the traffic signals.
Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar told the media on Thursday evening that the issue of the traffic signals has been resolved by the civic body with the proprietor of the traffic signals, who had installed the signals at the three traffic circles. As per the understanding, the proprietor has undertaken to look after the upkeep and maintenance of the traffic signals free of cost. In return, the MMC would allocate space at the traffic signals to the properties to display advertisements for revenue generation.
The MMC Chairperson pointed out that all the three traffic signals have started functioning from Thursday after the civic body reached an understanding with the proprietor.
He, however, clarified that the civic body will not act in haste on the issue of allocating advertisement space for the proprietor of the traffic signals, saying the MMC will take a call after taking into account the High Court directions on advertisements. “The proprietor Ankit Jain has agreed in principle to look after the upkeep and maintenance of the three traffic signals. Pending the signing of the AMC, the proprietor has repaired and restarted the traffic signals”, he said.
Damu gave all credit for the revival of the three traffic signals in Fatorda to the Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and former MLA Damu Naik, besides Traffic PI Gautam Salunke.
When his attention was drawn to the fact that the traffic signals were installed by Sardesai’s We for Fatorda, the MMC Chairperson agreed to the suggestion, but hastened to add that the traffic signals stopped working for want of maintenance.
