Goemkarponn desk
Canacona: The Highway Patrol cars patrolling the NH66 from Margao to Polem, has disappeared since last many months, which has lead to the rise of traffic violations on this part of the road.
The NH66 patrolling vehicles which used to maintain discipline on the road from Margao to Polem has abruptly been removed which is causing increase in road traffic violations and indiscipline on the road locals allege.
Not only this, the roadside assistance which the Highway Patrol used to provide drivers in distress is missing, locals say.
A highway patrol is created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, it’s of immense help to the Highway users, says Nanoj Prabhugaonkar a regular on this road.
However, sources at Canacona traffic cell informed that the vehicle from Canacona has been removed from this stretch and sent to Kulem.
Anil Bhagat a social activist from Canacona while complaining about the sudden stoppage of the services of this facility informed that the vehicle is required as the road from Margao to Polem has been notorious for over speeding, driving in the wrong lane, overtaking at the blind curves and many other traffic violations.
After the removal of this vehicle the violations and violators have increased, Bhagat added.
Police are busy with their routine and the traffic police are busy issuing challans to complete their monthly targets which has led to difficulties to the commuters, many from the taluka complained.
Diogo Da’ Silva a social activist from Canacona informed that the Highway Patrolling staff were doing a good job and their services should be restored immediately.
“I had seen the staff of the patrol vehicles helping commuters in need, be it incase of accidents or for other assistance” added Da’ Silva.
This road is an important link on the western coast of India and thousands of vehicles from all over India use this road, many accidents take place and the patrol vehicle was quick to respond to any distress calls informed Satish Paiginkar.
The National Highway Authority of India wants to make Highway travel as safe as possible and
when Highway Patrol vehicles are introduced on the National Highways all over India, its difficult to understand why the authorities removed these vehicles said Paiginkar.
“The job of the police on Patrol vehicles is put a check on vehicle over speeding, helping accidents victims, assisting drivers incase of breakdowns, clearing road in case of blockages, chasing and catching hit and run vehicles and passing information of dead carcasses on the road to the departments, this are the duties they do and without a Patrol vehicle in Canacona the road is become more vulnerable to mishaps informed Paiginkar.
Take for instance a case of one truck which broke down on Friday at Gulem, with no assistance from the authorities the truck driver managed to hire a earth moving machinery to tow the truck at a safe place.
With no police around we had to manage the traffic while towing the truck informed one of those present at the spot.
Another classic case of no assistance from authorities is a truck which has got stuck in the loose soil on the shoulder of the road at Balli, the driver is from Karnataka and doesn’t have much knowledge about from where he can get help.
When this correspondent asked the driver he said he is there stuck in the soil for last three days and without food.
When asked he said no police or anyone came to his help.
On Saturday morning a multi axle truck was stranded on the wrong lane on Karmalghat, since this truck was on the wrong lane at a blind curve, it was posing risk to the vehicles coming from the opposite side, when this correspondent asked the Cuncolim police why they can’t deploy police personnel to manage the traffic he was quick to add that it is not possible to keep police day and night at such places.
However, he agreed that due to these stranded vehicles on the road someone can die.
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