MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Road Safety and Traffic Management Committee had its first meeting on Thursday, but a host of old traffic issues came back to haunt the civic body and other authorities with no solution forthcoming on the burning traffic issues plaguing the commercial capital.
As citizens and councillors aired their grievances at the meeting chaired by Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar, it soon became apparent that the civic body had its share of the blame over its failure to initiate action and put the road safety and traffic management back on the roads.
Old and burning issues, many of which fall in the domain of the civic body, right from clearing the old bus stand of the fast food kiosks after business hours to the mangled remains of accident vehicles dumped on the bus stand; abandoned vehicles left along road sides; rent-a-bikes occupying parking space around the Municipal building right under the nose of the civic babus; garages along roadsides, contributing to traffic snarls et al came to the fore at the meeting.
After the first meeting, officials and citizens had a question or two to ask the powers that be “ whether the Margao civic chief Damu Shirodkar would clear the fast food handcarts left behind the old bus stand so that the space can be utilised for parking of vehicles for school children during day time, more so when the Margao Municipal licence conditions mandate the owners to take the carts to their place of residence.
Questions were also raised whether the MMC chairperson will act on the issue raised by MMC ruling councillor Mahesh Amonkar on the long-pending issue of rent-a-bike parked around the civic building right under the nose of the Municipal authorities, or the question posed by MMC vice-chairperson Deepali Sawal on a repair workshop that has come up in her ward with the painted vehicles kept for sale right along the roadside.
The issue of abandoned vehicles, which has posed a menace as well as an eyesore in the commercial capital, came back to haunt the traffic authorities. Margao Traffic PI Gautam Salunke conceded the abandoned vehicles is an eyesore in the city, but could not explain why the vehicles could not be towed away till date.
MMC chief to meet school heads, PTAs to help address traffic issues
MARGAO: After citizens and authorities raised a host of road safety and traffic issues thrown up by the presence of schools in the heart of the town, Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar has decided to call the heads of schools as well as the heads of Parents Teacher Association to help address the issues.
The decision to call the representatives of schools was taken after activist and GOACAN Coordinator Roland Martins suggested introduction of the warden scheme and training for volunteers to act as road safety patrol to guide the students. He pointed out that the scheme can be run by the PTAs of the respective school under the guidance of the traffic police.
“We would invite the representatives of school heads and the PTAs for the next meeting. Everybody should take the responsibility and contribute to streamline traffic in the city,” Damu stated.
