This is a paper circulated at the Open Forum on
Accident Scenario in Goa jointly convened in public
interest by Goa Peoples Forum and Rotary Club Panaji
this evening at St Inez Panaji.
Some points were raised at the Question hour as well
which were answered by the Director of Transport, the
Suptdg Engineer PWD (Highways) and the Director of
Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd;
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Goa has wittingly or unwittingly maintained its
sobriquet as a KILLER STATE coined over a decade and
half ago. There have been many symposia and the
issues discussed thread bare yet there is a lack of
political will to act and avert the situation. But
that is no reason for us to be complacent .
We at South Goa Public Interest Action Group a regd
NGO based at Margao with jurisdiction in the entire
South Goa Parliamentary Constituency functioning since
May 2000 have interacted with the Government to
addressed this vexed issue which has claimed several
lives and maimed others.
We are making a brief presentation (enclosed
herewith)which we trust the Government the commuters
pedestrians and public at large will consider. It is
not CUT & DRIED solution but with vigorous efforts we
are confident changes will come about .
Let this not be the end but using this report and
several such other reports from other NGO.s the
Government we could have the Government constitute a
Task Force which will have a time bound programme say
by this fiscal year end March 2004.
This is a two pronged Part A and Part B simultaneous
action we propose for the Government to enable them
come up with a Transport Policy, a status report on
implementation of various acts governing transport and
to lay out time bound programme.
PART A
WHY DOES THE PUBLIC NEED TO TRAVEL
For purposes like
a) education
b) work/business
c) sports
d) recreation
e) religious
f) domestic needs – marketing, courts, visit to health
care centers etc
g) services – relating to power, transport, water
supply sewerage telephone revenue matters, emigration
formalities etc
h) interaction with government
WHAT ARE THE PEAK TIMINGS
MORNING
a) Shift workers /teachers/students/domestic &
essential services and religious purposes (0600 hrs
onwards to 0800 hrs)
b) private employment 0600 hrs onwards to 0900 hrs)
c) government services /banks /courts ( 0800 hrs
onwards to 1030 hrs)
d) others from ( 0900 onwards to 1300 hrs )
EVENING
a) Shift workers /teachers/students/domestic &
essential services (1330 hrs onwards to 1500 hrs)
b) private employment 1700 hrs onwards to 2100hrs)
c) government services /banks /courts (1730 hrs
onwards to 2100 hrs)
d) others from ( 1600 hrs onwards to 2000 hrs )
HOW CAN WE CURB THIS NEED FOR TRAVEL
a) re-organising timings of
office/educational/religious/sports/ opening and
closing of commercial establishments and public
oriented services
b) introduction of mass trasportation, express semi
express and staggered services of public transport ,
chartered transport
c)introduce and interlink road /rail/river transport
d) decentralize the administration district wise and
subdivision wise or taluka level wise keeping
geographical contiguity and accessibility at minimum
cost and maximum confort wherever feasible
e) introduce one –stop offices especially of related
departments/services etc
f) introduce wider roads bye passes wherever feasible;
PART B
ROAD SAFETY MEASURES
TECHICAL/DEVELOPMENTAL
a) upgrade road geometrics and engineering techniques
to meet international standards where feasible;
b) introduce traffics signs and regulators and
effective lighting
c) create terminus, bays for two-three-four six
wheeler motor vehicles stands
d) allot pay parking slots to all motor-vehicles
e) remove all impediments which decelerate movement of
pedestrians commuters and motorists
TRAFFIC REGULATION
a) amend , modify , delete , introduce and implement
the Motor Vehicle Act and Rules both in letter and
spirit ; strict adherence to rules in issuing of
driving licences/ transport permits and fitness or
road worthy vehicles ,discarding age old and
environmentally unfriendly vehicles;
b) special attention to be paid to enforcement of
speed limits , wearing of uniform badges, excess
passenger , compounding of offences suspension of
driving licence
c) training to students, in Road transport patrolling
and education motorists as well
d) regulating movement of heavy duty goods and
chemical vehicles to ensure smooth public passenger
transport movement
e) nationalize or privatize routes to avoid
interlapping and unhealthy competion
f) restrict moverment of mini buses to arterial
roads and otherwise on National Highways only during
non peak hours
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITES
a) examine status of the Traffic Police and the RT
officials to ensure that they are placed on par;
b) carve out separate areas of operation and
responsibilities to avoid overlapping of duties
c) provide support services menial labour technical
staff technical equipment for police to attend to
accident victims and vehicles
d) ensure that all police stations take suo moto
action on transport violations and accidents
irrespective of area of jurisdiction
e) revamp the present administration in the
Directorate of Tranport and recruit personnel with
pre-requisite qualifications of technical and
transport management
qualifications
The TASK FORCE constituted with the officials of
Transport and representatives of all sections of
commuters trasporters industry and pedestrians should
function directly under the Chief Secretary and the
Chief Minister .
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
SOUTH GOA PUBLIC INTEREST ACTION GROUP
sd/=
Terence Mazarelo
PRESIDENT
________________________________________________________________________
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