The recently concluded Road Safety Week has highlighted several deficiencies concerning road safety and the responsibilities of various departments. A concerned citizen has brought to the authorities’ notice the unsafe installation of a huge LED screen at Agarwade junction, which can distract drivers and riders, particularly when it displays video clips of dance-party activities. Even if the LED screen has been installed on private land, it must comply with guidelines governing roadside advertisements and screens, including those laid down by the Supreme Court and matters pending before the Bombay High Court in Goa. These regulations must also apply to major district roads (MDRs). Ironically, the screen stands near the statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. The LED screen should be relocated to a suitable site and all prescribed guidelines must be strictly followed. Will the Cabinet Ministers and the ‘double-engine’ government act against such violations, or will they continue blaming past Congress governments? The government in power today is responsible for taking action.
GREGORY E D'SOUZA, Siolim
