PANJIM: Even as Smart City works in Panjim have made the life of its residents miserable, the State’s capital city’s cup of woes continues to overflow. The Panjim Traffic Cell of Goa Police is now grappling with staff crunch and to rub salt to the injury, the agencies carrying out works too failed to deploy marshals at the sites.
Traffic jams have become a regular feature, which are most of the time witnessed on D B Marg near Campal ground, especially in the evening.
What is startling is that enough attention is not being paid to the issue. Though a few months back, some posts were filled with traffic personnel, but that is not enough if the magnanimity of shortage of police personnel is considered.
During the hearing of two public interest litigation (PIL) writ petitions, the High Court of Bombay at Goa was informed that steps would be taken to provide adequate signages and that traffic marshals would be engaged at the work sites, in addition to traffic police, where the roads were not entirely closed or diverted.
Madan Bugde, a shop owner from St Inez, said that traffic marshals were not at all seen at the sites. “Had the contractor deployed marshals, the vehicles from other places would have not entered into the temporary road and caused blockades to St Inez residents. It’s complete mismanagement,” said Bugde
Piyush Panchal, one of the petitioners, too said that traffic marshals were not seen at the sites.
According to sources, the Panjim Traffic Cell had written to the contractor more than once, to provide traffic marshals at the sites, but in vain.
A top police officer said that at the time of undertaking any major road project, the contractor is directed to deploy marshals. But this was not the case in Panjim.
But what is more disheartening to note that the earlier practice of having traffic wardens to regulate traffic especially during the busy hours is missing. The need of wardens is being felt more in the view of roads dug up across the city due to the Smart City works, which has made the life of city dwellers miserable. And, to add to the misery, the road signs are missing, which has made it a free-for-all.
“The traffic warden system is still in force but people are not coming forward to offer their services. There are four traffic wardens working with the Panjim Traffic Cell. They are deployed whenever their services are required. They are paid a fixed honorarium. But since it is a voluntary service, citizens need to come forward to offer their services,” an official told O Heraldo.
Traffic warden Shamu Silimkhan, who has offered many years of service for the cause, said, “Earlier there used to be 11 traffic wardens in the capital city of Panjim to regulate traffic. They used to be deployed mostly close to their residences. However, they were not allotted any specific point to regulate the traffic. There were Home Guards as well, but they used to be posted along with traffic police.”
What is also saddening to note is that even lessons were not learnt even after the city, including Ribandar, witnessed two fatal accidents and many minor ones in which people sustained injuries. City dwellers are now wondering what the situation will be when the monsoon commences, as Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) has hardly 10 days to meet the May 31 deadline.
The sanctioned staff of the Panjim Traffic Cell is one PI, four PSIs, 10 ASIs, 14 head constables and 75 constables; however, the current strength of the cell is one PI, two PSIs, eight ASIS, 22 head constables and 31 constables. This means except for the head of the department, there is a shortage of staff at all ranks, especially constables which is even below half of the sanctioned strength.
When contacted, senior officers of the traffic cell admitted that there is shortage of staff but they termed it as a routine affair, which is dealt with on a regular basis.
Excavated B B Borkar Road causes traffic snarls in Porvorim
PANJIM: The residents of Porvorim were suddenly caught unaware with large scale digging of the B B Borkar road. The ongoing digging and excavation of the road on one side and that too at every 50 metres is causing traffic disruptions.
The B B Borkar road is witnessing bumper-to-bumper traffic jam. There is no traffic cop to control the movement of vehicles as one of the roads is blocked due to ongoing digging work. Also, there are no proper signages.
Porvorim Residents Welfare Association secretary Juino De Souza said, “Everyday serpentine queues of vehicles are seen on the road and if becomes difficult to commute as traffic is diverted from highway to the B B Borkar.”
He also said that the local MLA and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte should take cognisance of the matter and immediately deploy traffic police at the site. He further demanded that the contractor should also deploy traffic marshals to regulate the flow of traffic.