VASCO
Six accidents on Monday evening followed by a huge traffic jam at the Vales Junction at Alto Dabolim left motorists and locals fuming, amid demands for immediate changes in the roundabout at Vales Junction.
According to sources, residents of Alto-Dabolim have been irked over repeated accidents being reported almost everyday at the traffic roundabout at Vales Junction.
“Residents had earlier requested changes for the roundabout constructed by NHAI as the circle was too big and also asymmetrical, leaving one lane of the road very wide and the other road very narrow, making it extremely difficult for heavy vehicles to negotiate turn at this junction,” said a source.
“The junction witnessed 6 minor accidents on Monday itself and a huge traffic jam left hundreds of vehicles stranded for over three hours up to the MES college junction on Monday evening,” the source added.
The aggrieved residents later met Mormugao DySP Sunita Sawant and Traffic PI Roy Pereira to have sufficient traffic police arrangements at the junction to avoid daily accidents at the location.
“Residents then gathered at the junction and began protesting against the unplanned roundabout which caused danger to motorists daily. The angry residents also blocked the service road and two traffic officials were also deployed.”
Despite Traffic police being present, there were more accidents. Many heavy vehicles jump signals while moving from Verna towards the Airport and the narrow road causes vehicles to brush each other, forcing traffic to be paralysed for hours,” said the source.
Secretary of All India Malayali Association P C Prasad, who was at the site during the accident and traffic jam, said the size of the roundabout needed to be reduced to ease the traffic.
“There is a dangerous road divider that comes into the road which is already narrow pushing all vehicles toward left side causing minor accidents. The circle is asymmetric, besides being too huge and people say everyday a few minor accidents are reported. The circle needs immediate changes,” said Prasad.
When contacted, Panchayat Minister and Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho assured to work out a solution soon.
“I will soon have an inspection at the Vales Junction along with NHAI officials, traffic officials and heads of other relevant departments to find a solution to the issue,” said Godinho.
Steps afoot to make Vales junction safer, asserts Dabolim MLA
VASCO
Admitting the issues of the roundabout at Vales Junction, Panchayats Minister and Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho said there was a need to fine-tune the traffic circle.
He was speaking to reporters after inspecting the roundabout at Vales Junction in the presence of various officials from related departments, amid growing number of mishaps at the junction.
“Despite traffic signals, there has been traffic chaos as motorists have been jumping signals. I appeal to people to follow traffic rules,” said Godinho.
Godinho said during an inspection of over an hour, there were motorists who were found breaking traffic rules.
“If people don’t follow traffic rules, it could only mean more deaths on the road and if traffic rules are followed, traffic will be smooth from all sides,” said the minister.
He informed that tarring of road will be taken up as one portion of the road looks old and shabby, adding that motorists were reluctant to use that road. “A fresh coat of tar will make the entire road wider and motorists will start using it. We will also decrease the size of the traffic island a bit, to minimise the chances of vehicles hitting it.”
“We will do fresh markings on the roads and put more rumbler strips at the location, so that motorists don’t jump signals here. Other things like additional glow signs will also be installed,” said Godinho.
Godinho said there has been a tremendous growth in number of houses and vehicles, causing heavy traffic in the area.
