Schoolchildren cross the railway tracks at Comba when the crossing is closed to traffic.
MARGAO
The new academic year commenced on Monday, bringing with it the same familiar traffic and safety concerns that have long plagued Margao.
The schoolchildren were seen crossing the railway tracks at Comba, while the traffic personnel returned to the roads early in the morning to regulate traffic near the district police headquarters junction, where there are a couple of schools.
Like in the past, roads near a few schools were temporarily closed for vehicular traffic to avoid congestion, considering the safety of the students.
In June last year, a high-level meeting was convened by South Goa Additional Collector, Srinet Kothwale, at the initiative of Margao MLA Digambar Kamat to address the traffic issues plaguing the heart of the commercial capital during peak school hours. Be it a traffic management plan, staggered school timings, de-notification of the old bus stand, or getting rid of the gaddas at the bus stand, several measures were mooted at the meeting. However, questions have been raised as to whether any of these measures have been implemented in time for the new academic year.
DySP, Traffic, Rajendra Prabhudesai, assured that efforts are underway to implement the recommended measures before the academic year resumes in June.
Students continue to risk crossing railway tracks
A visit to the Comba railway crossing on Monday revealed a concerning sight – schoolchildren, along with students from nearby educational institutions, were rushing to cross the tracks as the new school term began.
There was no traffic personnel or Home Guard present to regulate the crossing. The railway gate was closed to traffic just before the Colem-Vasco train could pass, but the schoolchildren preferred to cross the tracks. This highlights the ongoing traffic and safety issues at the Comba railway crossing, an area considered the city’s educational hub.
While the Comba subway, built around a decade and a half ago, just metres away from the crossing, has outlived its utility, plans to build a flyover at the railway crossing have yet to fructify.
Traffic woes prevail near Margao police station junction
The situation was no better at the Margao police station traffic junction, where only two police personnel were stationed – one near the Loyola-Fatima Convent junction and the other near Gomant Vidya Niketan – to manage school-related traffic and ensure the safety of students.
At the high-level meeting held last year, a decision was made to implement staggered timings for the schools to avoid rush during the afternoon school peak hours. However, when contacted by 'The Goan', DySP-Traffic Rajendra Prabhudesai stated that discussions with school management and PTAs are ongoing to determine how best to implement these staggered timings.
Fast food gaddas at old bus stand
Intervention by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat over the state of affairs at the old bus stand brought about a change on the ground, with the fast food gaddas made to maintain cleanliness in the surroundings and restrict their presence along the police station road.
However, fast food carts are still being left behind at the old bus stand, despite Margao Municipal regulations mandating that owners remove their carts after business hours.
Privately, officials acknowledge that the old bus stand could have been better managed and utilised for parking and as a designated area for school pick-up and drop-off, had the municipality enforced its licencing conditions more effectively.
