The collapse of a portion of a huge advertisement hoarding onto a motorcycle rider near Dabolim airport on Tuesday should serve as a wake-up call for Goa. The rider was injured but had a miraculous escape. The incident could easily have ended in a fatality if not for the helmet he was wearing. While outdoor advertising is a legitimate commercial activity, a poorly designed, inadequately supported or improperly maintained hoarding can turn into a dangerous structure capable of causing serious injury or death. The authorities need to treat the Dabolim incident as a warning and undertake a comprehensive safety audit of roadside advertisement hoardings across Goa. Hoardings that are found to be unsafe or structurally deficient should be removed without delay. Several technical factors must be considered before a large hoarding is approved. The direction and speed of prevailing and extreme winds, including conditions experienced during storms and cyclones, must be factored into the structural design. There should also be a clear system of periodic inspections. The authorities need to maintain a database of large advertisement structures in the state. Public safety must come before advertising revenue.
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
