It is learnt that a day after a fatal accident at Consua junction on Friday, traffic police were deployed at the accident-prone junction. This must be considered as a stop-gap arrangement. Police personnel are after all humans and cannot be expected to do duty in the hot sun throughout the day. Police stations are also facing a shortage of staff. It is learnt that the Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas has recommended installation of traffic signals at the junction. It is absolutely necessary to install traffic signals at all major road junctions in the state which should be functional. The traffic signals at Verna junction were not functioning for several days. The traffic lights at other junctions along the highway from Verna to Dabolim Airport are functioning intermittently. Given the tremendous increase in the number of vehicles on Goa roads the importance of traffic signals cannot be underestimated. The primary function of any traffic signal is to assign right-of-way to conflicting movements of traffic at an intersection. Traffic lights also save time by coordinating traffic routes and flow without traffic jams. The traffic police posted at the junctions need to book vehicular drivers who jump the signal. Broadening of roads and building flyovers has reduced travel time. What is also necessary is traffic control at major junctions by installing traffic lights.
