MAPUSA
More than a month after at least three traffic signals were accidentally knocked down at the crucial court junction in Mapusa, the failure to replace them has led to severe traffic congestion, particularly during peak hours, creating a challenging situation for commuters and traffic police alike.
The absence of functioning traffic lights has forced the limited traffic police personnel to manually regulate the heavy vehicular movement at the intersection, especially during the morning rush when students are heading to school.
With four schools, a higher secondary institution, and a college located in the vicinity, the situation often turns chaotic, with vehicles converging from all four sides of the busy junction.
A resident of Mapusa, Prakash Naik, who frequently passes through the junction, expressed his frustration over the delay in reinstalling the signals. “Every morning, it’s a nightmare to pass through this junction. The police are doing their best, but with such heavy traffic, a single cop managing the situation is just not enough,” he said.
The junction originally had traffic signals installed and functioning smoothly. However, over a month ago, an incident involving a vehicle from the electricity department led to the collapse of the signals.
According to reports, overhead wires connected to the traffic signals got entangled in the vehicle, causing all four traffic lights to come crashing down.
Mapusa Municipal Council, which had installed the signals at the crucial intersection, has been working on restoring them but has been slow in doing so. The court junction is one of the busiest points in the city and experiences high traffic flow throughout the day.
Even when the signals were operational, traffic police were often required to be present to facilitate smooth vehicular movement. In the absence of signals, the situation has only worsened.
Another local commuter, Sarita Fernandes, voiced her concern about safety, particularly for students.
“I drop my children to school every day, and crossing this junction is very risky. The traffic is unpredictable, and without proper signals, there’s always the fear of an accident,” she said.
An official from the municipal council stated that efforts are underway to restore the signals through a more durable approach.
“We have decided to connect the traffic signals through underground cabling. The approval from the electricity department has already been obtained, and we are now waiting for the final nod from the PWD. Once we receive that, the installation of the new signals will be completed within a week,” the official assured.
While the assurance from authorities offers some hope, residents and daily commuters remain sceptical, urging a faster resolution to the issue.
Until the signals are reinstated, traffic police will have to continue struggling to manage the overwhelming congestion, especially during school and office hours.
With Mapusa growing as a commercial and educational hub, residents insist that the authorities must prioritise road safety and ensure that such prolonged delays do not occur in the future.
