MARGAO
The reason: Movement of traffic from the city towards the flyover comes to a halt even if a single bus makes an authorized stop at the Goa Guest House lodge to collect passengers.
The city is observing Road Safety week and the ground reality remains unchanged. When The Goan team visited the spot, passenger buses as usual were collecting passengers at the unauthorized stop, bringing traffic to a standstill. That's not all. There was no constable posted at the spot to regulate traffic or act as a deterrent to the erring drivers from making the unauthorized stop, although many traffic personnel were seen moving in the city with alacrity to challan two-wheelers found riding without head gear.
The situation near the flyover is just one instance. Passenger buses from the KTC bus stand are permitted by law to make one halt near the Hospicio hospital and a brief halt at the Comunidade building to facilitate passengers to alight and board the buses.
In reality, however, the buses make umpteen unauthorized stops, beginning at the SGPDA market, Old market, Holy Spirit Church Square, Hospicio hospital, Comunidade building, George garments before making the last halt near the flyover.
When The Goan called up senior traffic officer, DySP Prabodh Shirwaikar to shed light on the matter, he was frank in admitting that rules only permit buses to halt near Hospicio and at the Comunidade building. He further admitted that passengers buses do make unauthorized halts along the KTC-flyover route and are penalized by traffic personnel for violations.
Shirwaikar, however, had no answer why bus drivers are emboldened to make unauthorized halts, knowing well that a single halt results in traffic jams along the flyover stretch. "I will discuss the matter with Traffic PI Mohan Gawde and see how best to reign in errant bus drivers," he said.
Activist Mahesh Nayak, however, blamed the traffic cops and the police for the deteriorating situation. "Most of the public transport do not follow the mandatory bus stops. The buses stop anywhere blocking traffic all the time. All this happens right under the noses of the authorities and the people of Goa are well aware of the reasons," Mahesh asserted.
