Traffic congestion continues to plague Valpoi town

Speaking to The Goan, a number of residents and motorists have complained that the issue of traffic congestion has been plaguing Valpoi since the last few years.

They have criticised the Valpoi Municipal Council (VMC) for failing to address the issue and for failing to implement a traffic plan in the town.

“Since the last seven years, people have been repeatedly demanding a solution to the traffic congestion in Valpoi town, but the VMC and other authorities have been least bothered. On Tuesday, the weekly market day, traffic was held up in a massive traffic jam in the town for almost 2 hours and this caused hardship to motorists, pedestrians and locals,” complained a local motorist.

Expressing displeasure over the frequent traffic jams, local businessman Sunil Katkar blamed the VMC for failing to to implement a traffic plan for the town.

“Valpoi town is growing rapidly and this has led to a surge in vehicles passing in and through the town. To make matters worse, several vehicles are wrongly parked and this adds to the traffic congestion. Sadly, the police has not been taking strict action against those wrongly parking their vehicles,” said Katkar.

Katkar pointed out that traffic congestion has not only endangered pedestrians and inconvenience to motorists, it has also adversely impacted business establishments in the town.

“In the absence of a traffic plan and with customers reluctant to visit shops and business establishments due to the traffic congestion and poor parking facilities, it is difficult to run a business in Valpoi town,” said Katkar.

According to sources, thhe VMS has been trying to implement a traffic plan for Valpoi town and had interacted with Health Minister and local MLA Vishwajit Rane and several authorities in this regard.

The VMC had been given a time-bound deadline to implement the traffic plan, but it is yet to receive sanction and be implemented.