Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: The South Goa District Road Safety Committee meeting was held on Friday at the South Goa Collectorate, chaired by Additional Collector Ramesh Gaonkar, with members flagging key road safety concerns across the district.
Addressing the media after the meeting, the Additional Collector said all concerned departments were directed to take the help of local self-governing bodies and initiate action against encroachments and illegal roadside hawking, which pose serious risks to road users.
Committee member Lorna raised concerns over trucks being parked along roadsides at Navelim and Cuncolim, stating that the issue was discussed in detail and that there is an urgent need for a dedicated truck terminal. She alleged that the Public Works Department (PWD) was not acting against encroachments on its land, while the municipalities were failing to take action against roadside vendors.
It was decided that the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) has been requested to submit a compliance report with photographic evidence, showing the situation before and after action, to ensure accountability.
Committee member Roland Martins expressed concern that many elected representatives had failed to raise public safety issues. He stressed the need for fast-track action on road safety matters and pointed out that the district-level road safety committee meetings are mandatory as per Supreme Court directives to state governments.
Martins also highlighted the lack of coordination among departments, adding that while implementation of measures has been slow, progress is being made.
