To, the Editor Navhind Times Panjim Kindly publish this letter in your My take column. Thanks Regards
Stephen Dias D.Paula Mob: 9422443110CM NEEDS TO GIVE HIGH PRIORITY FOR A BUS STAND AT DONA PAULA Recently an accident took place on the slope of the NIO Dona Paula junction road. An excavator (JCB) damaged three 4- wheelers after hitting a scooter. There were two ladies from Pune on the scooter who were proceeding to Dona Paula jetty for sight seeing. One of the ladies succumbed to her injuries after being taken to GMC and the other one has multiple fractures and is seriously hurt. This is the latest in many accidents in this area. This area is prone to accidents and the Govt. or Traffic Dept is yet to find solution. The main reason for this problem is that the road is quite narrow and the drivers cannot control their vehicles on account of several inters state tourist buses being parked at the NO Parking Zone at this junction. Also we see regular D.Paula-Panjim buses parking on this circle openly in front of the Police D.Paula Outpost making it difficult to maneuver the traffic. The Dy SP from the Traffic Cell Mr Angle has told me that he made many attempts to get a Bus Stand for these tourists’ buses as well as for the local buses and even he has attempted to write several reminders to the Government, Raj Bhavan, CCP and the Tourism dept asking for a place for a Bus stand, but unfortunately nothing has come up. We, the D.Paula residents request our Chief Minister to intervene and solve this situation. Even our CCP Mayor Surendra Furtado and the Governor, are seen everyday moving in this circle but no action has been taken by them to widen the road. At the very least the parking of vehicles haphazardly at the D.Paula circle should be stopped as they do not observe the traffic signs and thus make it difficult for us to ply our vehicles on these roads. It is very essential to have some appropriate parking arrangement and a Bus Stand. The Dy.SP suggested a place near Caranzalem Park but Mrs. Pamela Mascarenhas (tourism dept.) replied in the negative. She said that the Central Govt plot near the Caranzalem Park at Water Sports complex could not be transferred to the state govt. However, adjacent to that we have an area close to the Caranzalem Park which could be ideal for a Bus Stand. The D.Paula Jetty should be taken as "NO vehicle entry", as the road is very narrow. Tourists should visit this place by walking and not by vehicles. The Dy. Collector must put up the sign board for these vehicles not to ply to the jetty. The Dona Paula Outpost Police station is not in position to control this mess of tourist vehicles everyday which are seen all the time parked on the roads, especially in the tourist season, around the NIO circle because they do not have a solution. Will CM take note of this and make arrangements for a Bus Stand to find out a remedy of this congestion? Stephen Dias Resident of D.Paula Social Worker Mob: 9422443110 Date: 1.11.13