THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO: The diversion of traffic between Panaji and Margao via Cortalim Circle is set to be enforced at night from June 24 and despite a notification to this effect in the Official Gazette, the Vasco Traffic Cell has been clueless about the traffic diversion.
As and when the Vasco Traffic Police is made aware of the traffic diversion, night patrolling would be a major problem given the shortage of manpower and machinery, sources have told The Goan.
The Vasco Traffic Cell would have to play a vital role in monitoring and regulating traffic along the diversion, especially since the closure of the road between Cortalim Circle and Santrant slope as well as the diverted route via Verna-Titan junction, Airport junction and Chicalim junction fall within its jurisdiction.
When contacted, Vasco Traffic PI Suraj Samant said he was not in a position to comment on the traffic diversion.
“This is because, the Traffic Cell has not received any notification copy about the traffic diversion nor was it put up before the Vasco Traffic Cell by relevant authorities,” said PI Samant.
However, sources said the Vasco Traffic Cell did not have adequate infrastructure to monitor traffic at the Cortalim circle during the diversion.
"The Vasco Traffic Cell does not have sufficient manpower and machinery for night patrolling to monitor traffic along this diversion. Even now, the Traffic Cell has to rely on some additional strength from elsewhere even to regulate regular traffic at the Cortalim circle.”
The source also admitted to the possibility that motorists would seek shorter routes (near the Shantadurga Temple, opposite St Jacinto island or along the Cortalim ferry road) to travel between Panaji and Margao, instead of travelling along the much longer “official” traffic diversion.
“The Traffic Cell will also not be in a position to stop motorists from using the shorter routes in the area avoid the longer traffic diversion. The Traffic Police cannot block these two routes,” said the source.
