the goan I network
VASCO
Even as the proposed traffic diversion for vehicles plying between Panaji and Margao is yet to be finalised, the Cortalim Circle is already witnessing traffic jams.
A massive traffic jam was reported at Cortalim circle on Thursday evening and sources said even emergency services, including an ambulance, were affected due to the traffic jam.
A motorist stranded in the traffic jam shot a video of an ambulance struggling to move through the traffic jam and posted the video on social media, which spread like wild fire.
The video generated strong criticism from viewers, with many questioning the administration for failing to regulate traffic at Cortalim circle.
According to sources, several barricades have been put up on either side of the road leading from Vasco to the Cortalim Circle, to compel motorists to move along a single lane.
“As the traffic then begins to move at snail’s pace, vehicles start piling up. Several vehicles also try and push into the lane from either sides of the lane, leading to an even bigger traffic jam,” said the source.
When contacted, a traffic police official informed that barricades had been put considering the huge rush of vehicles expected for the upcoming Christmas festival and New Year celebrations.
“Since the road ahead of Cortalim Circle is one way, it was decided that barricades would ensure that we have single lanes of vehicles moving along the road from either sides of the circle.”
“We wanted a single lane movement of vehicles from Margao and Vasco so that it would ease the pressure at the Cortalim Circle,” said the traffic official.
“During December, there is a heavy flow of traffic and according to a survey, 35 vehicles travel along one lane of the Cortalim area per minute during normal days and this figure can rise in December.”
“If around 70 vehicles are moving per minute on both sides on normal days, the situation is hard to control in December. In case of an accident a five-minute traffic jam can easily lead to 350 vehicles lined up and wanting to move ahead, causing a chaos. Hence, barricading and controlling traffic before the vehicles reach the Cortalim circle is important in traffic management,” the official added.
