Traffic diversion plans evoke anger

VASCO: The 18-km traffic diversion planned for vehicles plying between Panaji and Margao via Cortalim has evoked outrage in Vasco, with a few activists denouncing the plan and claiming that it would severely affect motorists, commuters and emergency services.
Several activists and NGOs have hit out at the state administration for planning the diversion and keeping it a closely guarded secret.
While some activists have claimed that the decision could sharply increase the traffic on the highway leading to Vasco, others have questioned the consequences of such a decision and its impact on Vascokars.
“This (traffic diversion) is the most bizarre decision I have ever come across,” was the reaction of social activist Vikram Sarmalcar.
“I wonder how some emergency services will work and what will be the situation if an ambulance has to rush from Margao to GMC hospital,” said Sarmalkar.
“I also fail to imagine what a KTC bus route between Panaji and Margao will be like and these questions need to be addressed,” added Sarmalkar.
Rejecting claims that people of Vasco may not be directly affected by the traffic diversion, Sarmalkar said the diverted route would only add a huge amount of vehicles to the already busy route between Chicalim Junction and the Airport Junction.
“Vasco, which is already struggling with traffic congestion on roads between Chicalim Circle and at Dabolim Airport junction, will have to bear an extra load of vehicles rushing through these roads.
"Today, any person trying to go to the airport from the Chicalim Circle has to wait for at least 20 minutes at the signals of the Dabolim Airport junction. This will only take longer if the Margao-Panaji highway traffic is diverted along this route.”
“Besides, there are other signals on the NH17 B, at the Vales Junction and MES College junction, which could further add to the queues and traffic chaos,” he added.
NGO Goa First Convenor Parshuram Sonurlekar has said the rise in diverted traffic would increase the load of vehicles along the two national highways, NH17A and NH17B.
"We have so many intersections along the NH17 B at various locations. Many accidents take place on these highways and I doubt if these highways can cater to the extra traffic for as long as a year.”
“I am sure authorities will not be able to control motorists entering village roads. This will lead to a chaotic situation and the proposal needs to be reviewed," said Sonurlekar.
Social activist Anant Prabhu denounced the proposed traffic diversion plan as “absurd and vague”.
“The diverted traffic will also affect emergency services in Mormugao taluka as well. What would happen if an ambulance trying to move from SMRC hospital to GMC hospital is stuck in a traffic jam or a fire brigade trying to rush from Vasco to Sancoale is caught up in the traffic?”
Prabhu also agreed with other activists that the Chicalim Junction and the Dabolim Airport Junctions would witness huge traffic jams.
“While the traffic police are already struggling to control traffic during peak hours at the airport, will they deploy more staff to handle the additional diverted traffic at these busy junctions,” asked Prabhu.