MARGAO
The long-delayed meeting of the Road Safety & Traffic Management Committee of the Margao Municipal Council finally took place on Wednesday, but most of the issues discussed at the last meeting all came back to haunt the stakeholders including the authorities.
Be it the multilevel parking project, CCTV cameras, traffic signals, traffic congestion on the roads for want of parking, kiosks along roadsides, abandoned vehicles, rent and car and bikes et al, these and other issues seemed craving for solutions in the commercial capital.
Given that the CCTV cameras have not fallen in place till date for want of funds, MMC Chairperson Damu Shirodkar was requested by GOACAN Coordinator Roland Martins to seek funds under the road safety fund to fund the project. Martins informed around Rs nine crore road safety fund is presently lying with the government and that the MMC should tap and avail the fund to fund the CCTV project.
The MMC has been caught napping on the question of the City Fathers submitting their requirements for sign boards, zebra crossing and speed breakers in their respective wards.
The issue of traffic congestion at the Multipurpose school complex, Borda came back to the haunt the authorities after ward Councilor Camilo Barretto highlighted the traffic snarls along the stretch due to the business activity, including newly-opened shopping malls.
When the issue of rent-a-car and rent-a-bike issue came up for discussion with members highlighting the parking issues faced by the citizens, DySP Traffic, Prabodh Shirwaikar point blank said the permits for the rental bikes and cars are being given by the RTO and not by the traffic department.
GOACAN Coordinator Roland Martins impressed upon the need to have more and more parking lots in the city to cater to the growing requirements for the next 10 years.
Martins also raised the issue of safety audit of the Margao flyover and the situation at the Comba railway crossing “God forbid, if there’s a derailment of a train at the Comba railway crossing, just imagine the situation at the area, which is considered the city’s education hub. Are the railways and local authorities geared up to meet any eventuality”, he questioned.
The issue of abandoned vehicles once again surfaced at the meeting. DySP traffic, Prabodh Shirwaikar pointed out that the abandoned vehicles can be towed away only after a proclamation by the District Magistrate.
On the school children transport committee, a suggestion was made to the Margao Municipal Council to seek the list of the Children Transport Committee from the city schools.
The Old bus stand, which has been craving for attention also figured during the discussion when the MMC was requested to approach the Director of Transport to replace the bus shelter and provide basic amenities for the passengers. MMC Chairperson Damu Shirodkar maintained that a beautification project has been prepared for the old Margao bus stand.
The jurisdiction of the road going to the Fatorda stadium from the KTC bus stand came up for discussion. GOACAN Coordination Martins underscored the need to check the jurisdiction of the road since the KTC is using the road for the passengers to alight from the buses, adding that the KTC is also collecting on the road.
