PANAJI
Had the delineators (plastic lane dividers) been installed on the Mandovi bridges, the accident that claimed the life of a casino employee last week could have been prevented. Reliable sources told The Goan, that the Public Works Department (PWD) has allegedly delayed action on the proposal, for reasons best known to its officials concerned.
“We are awaiting a response from them regarding several long-pending proposals, including the fixing of delineators on the Mandovi bridges,” the official said. This is even as the rectification of black spots is being taken up but the works are being taken up at a slow pace.
While the PWD is now at the receiving end, it is also learnt that this delineators’ proposal was made prior to the accident on the bridge. Amid apprehensions that nailing or using other methods to permanently fix these dividers might damage the road surface on the bridge, the senior officer said, these can be securely fixed without compromising the asphalt.
“PWD has the expertise to ensure the permanent fixing of these dividers does not affect the asphalt,” he said, explaining that Traffic Cell’s previous attempt to divide the lane using plastic cones failed because it could not withstand strong winds and were easily dislodged by passing vehicles.
Moreover, several drivers do not adhere to the road surface markings, which makes the presence of such barriers on the roads all the more necessary.
Last Thursday’s accident sent shockwaves to the State when a recklessly driven rent-a-car crossed his lane into oncoming traffic on the Mandovi Bridge, and collided with the bike. With the impact, the rider Javed Sadekar was flung into the river and his body was found on Saturday. Accused Odisha tourist Ankit Triparty is in judicial custody.
The Traffic Department, sources said, has also come across several instances of ‘not driving in the proper lane’, particularly on busy streets.
