the goan I network
PANAJI
The old reporting method of traffic violations through a WhatsApp number for traffic sentinels was on Thursday replaced with a more efficient sentinel app which will make the system more accountable and also allow sentinels to view their credit score online.
The Goa Traffic Sentinel App facilitates easy reporting of violations under the Traffic Sentinel Scheme which was launched one year ago in November 2017 and which empowered the general public to participate in the better management of traffic in Goa.
The app was launched at the hands of the Governor of Goa Dr Mridula Sinha who said that the scheme is a good example of public participation in governance. She appealed to the youth to join in large numbers and help report traffic violations on the road.
The WhatsApp number used to report violations (7875756110) ceases to be operational and sentinels will now have to report traffic violations instantly using the new app.
The new app was necessitated after the sentinel scheme received a good response and around 2900-odd sentinels registered with the police department.
The processing desk was bombarded with around 2000 photos of traffic violations through the common WhatsApp number.
Processing this and keeping account of each sentinel had also become a tedious task.
With the new system, however, the money will be automatically transferred to the sentinels account and he/she can also trace the status of his reporting online.
As per the sentinel scheme, users receive points based on the type of violation. On accumulation of 100 points based on violations reported, a cash reward of Rs 1,000 is given to the sentinel
Till date, Goa police has disbursed an amount of Rs 11.92 lakhs and an additional Rs 23 lakhs will be distributed shortly.
According to the DGP Muktesh Chander, it was the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who suggested that they give a big cash reward for traffic sentinels.
This scheme has become permanent now with the government notifying it, Chander added.
A lucky draw of 2 winners among traffic sentinels was also held on the occasion of the app launch on Thursday and prizes including a Maruti Alto car and a Hero motorcycle were distributed to the 2 prize winners.
The winner of the Alto K-10 was Rohidas Naik and the winner of the motorcycle was Snehal Kadam. Both prizes were sponsored by the respective manufacturers.
Chief Secretary of Goa Dharmendra Sharma, IGP Jaspal Singh, Vikas Kohly of Maruti Suzuki India, Prashant Chopra of Hero MotoCorp and Revti Muzumdar, CEO of Goa Electronics Limited were also present on the occasion.
