Traffic signages installed by Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) in association with corporate houses as part of a corporate social responsibility in Vasco may have benefited motorists, but they have been causing problems to pedestrians.
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VASCO
According to sources, the contractor involved in installing the signages at different locations has failed to maintain the stipulated height.
"As a result, a lot of signboards are short and are causing inconvenience to residents and pedestrians. The small sponsored boards below the traffic signs cannot be sighted easily, especially after dusk. In some cases, people have even collided with the sponsored boards at the traffic signages," said the source.
In one incident, a man sustained minor injuries after hitting a sponsored board below the signboard near Teles Pharmacy at Vasco and concerned family members then covered the board with a sack and plastic, to prevent others from getting hurt.
"The contractor has installed the signboards below the standard size. Signboards are necessary but they should be installed at the correct height or else, they could be dangerous to pedestrians who fail to notice these boards," said a resident, Eddie
Fernandes.
Another resident, Balkrishna Khadapkar said: "Sometimes, people rushing to shops in the area fail to sight these sponsored signboards in the dark and often collide with them."
In another incident, an elderly lady, who sells tender coconuts near the Vasco market bus stop, recently collided with another such signboard.
"I got a cut after I collided with the short signboard erected here. I was rushing to board a local bus to go home. I ignored it and sat in the bus, but later I felt giddy and it was the bus conductor who helped me to reach my house," said the lady on condition of
anonymity.
Removing dangerous signages will
be our top priority: Chief Officer
VASCO: Mormugao Municipal Council Chief Officer Deepali Naik has instructed the municipal council engineer to immediately inspect all signboards and remove those signboards posing a danger to the people.
"I was unaware about this issue, as no one had complained to me. I have, however, instructed the engineer to immediately inspect all signboards and remove those posing a danger on top priority," Naik told The Goan.
"I will also speak to the corporate houses concerned and inform them that I am removing all the dangerous signboards and keeping them aside. Once the height of these signboards is rectified, they can put these signages at the same location," assured Naik.
