PANAJI
The very second day of the Porvorim elevated corridor has exposed what the Traffic Department had feared more than two months ago -- that the new traffic arrangement could confuse motorists and increase the risk of accidents.
Less than 24 hours, that warning became reality with the first accident and a fatal one at that.
While overspeeding by the car driver is not being ruled out, police are also examining whether the absence of adequate traffic-management measures contributed to the accident. In a July 7 letter to the Public Works Department, Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Prabodh Shirwaiker had warned that traffic from the elevated corridor and the existing road would converge near Hotel Majestic before proceeding towards Atal Setu. The resulting criss-cross movement, he said, could increase the risk of accidents. The Traffic Department had accordingly sought channelisers and adequate directional signboards to regulate the movement of vehicles at the point. Yet, even after the corridor was commissioned, the required directional signs and channelisation measures are not put in place along the stretch. The department had also identified another potential danger near Ticlo Diesel Pump, where vehicles descending from the elevated corridor would merge with NH-66. Since such vehicles could approach the merging point at relatively high speeds, the SP had called for appropriate traffic engineering measures, including channelisation, road markings and warning signs. The July 7 communication was issued when the project was in its final stages, with the letter also making clear the recommendations were intended to ensure safe and smooth traffic movement and minimise the likelihood of accidents. Two-wheelers were a particular concern. Since their movement over Atal Setu is restricted, the Traffic Department had proposed that two-wheelers travelling from Mapusa towards Panaji through the elevated corridor be compulsorily diverted towards the Old/New Mandovi Bridges.
"Advance directional signs at suitable intervals and at multiple locations well before the diversion point be installed to ensure motorists were not caught unaware," it had said as the Traffic Department further called for proper geometric alignment at the staggered junctions near Teachers Training College and Jeevottam Mutt, pointing out that the design had to account for commercial establishments, educational institutions and other vital installations in the area.
So also, the reinstallation of traffic signals that were in place on NH-66 before construction of the elevated corridor began were sought at six locations of Socorro-Sangolda Junction, Holy Family School Junction, Holy Family Church Junction, O’Coqueiro Junction, Teachers Training College Junction and Teen Building Junction.
