VASCO
In a significant decision which will be welcomed by residents in the port town, the South Goa Collector has banned the movement of trucks and other heavy vehicles, excluding public transportation buses, from the city roads from 7 am to 10 pm.
Speaking to reporters, Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar said the order to ban the movement of trucks through the city from 7am to 10 pm had been issued, but would be fully implemented in a few days.
“Heavy vehicles moving through busy areas of Vasco city cause pollution and also led to accidents and we always wanted to stop the movement of heavy vehicles through the city for a long time. We have finally got an order for a complete ban on these vehicles from 7 am to 10 pm. We had met CM Pramod Sawant and even wrote to authorities and finally, this order has been issued,” said Salkar.
“We have thousands of trucks connected to the port and these trucks have tie-ups and credit facilities with petrol pumps in the city and this is one reason they preferred to come in the city.”
“We were asked to allow empty trucks for loading fuel but we insisted that empty trucks are equally dangerous while they move in the city during peak hours or school hours and this petrol pump tie up will have to be stopped. We will meet the transporters and tell them about this order so that they are well aware and have no reason for moving through the city,” said Salkar.
The Vasco MLA, however, admitted that it would take some time to implement the order. “We have just got the order yesterday and transporters have to inform their drivers about this order and this will take some time. We have told the PWD and MMC to install boards at all junctions notifying that heavy vehicle movement is banned in the city so that the truck drivers are aware and this will happen in the next 8 days. Despite this, if they still come then police will start challaning them and take action,” said Salkar.
“We are also trying to tie up with an industrialist to have CCTVs installed at various points so that these movements can be monitored and the police can act directly.”
“One reason for heavy vehicle movement through the city is because the port connectivity flyover connecting Gate 9 of the port is not completed and there are technical issues where trailers and containers cannot use the other road and prefer to go by the city.”
“We are also expediting work on this part of the port connectivity by requesting the CM to chair a meeting of NHAI, MPT and PWD. This part would take another 6 months and after this, no transportation will move through Vasco city,” said Salkar.
