The move by the Goa Government to implement the enhanced traffic violation fines only from April 1, 2022 after the Assembly elections is a very skewed decision, which smacks of shameful politriks. If the government feels the increased fines are unreasonable they should take steps to urge the Centre to alter it.
The implementation of this amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act which came into force from September 1, 2019 was deferred earlier to first get the Goa roads in shape. On the contrary the roads today are even more perilous than they were in 2019, littered with potholes and huge craters even on the Atal Setu Bridge.The move to defer implementation now is because the ruling party fears a backlash from the voters at the Assembly polls on account of the hiked fines.
A sensible government focused on good governance takes hard and tough decisions in the best interests of the public and the State, even if they may not be pleasant. Sam Walton an American businessman and founder of Walmart was spot on when he said ‘Leaders must always put people before themselves. If you do that the business will take care of itself’.
