Goemkarponn desk
CORTALIM: Cortalim Congress block members threaten to do “rasta roko” (blocking the road) if proper traffic regulation and placement of traffic police at accident-prone junctions at Cortalim are not deputed by the Traffic cell.
Vasco Traffic Cell assured to put additional staff at junctions once the out stationed staff return from Uttar Pradesh.
Olencio Simoes, Congress leader and block Congress committee along with Peter Fernandes youth president and Andrea Demello Mahila President slammed a contractor for violating the procedures of tender like providing cautionary signboards regarding diversion of traffic and obtaining necessary permission from the district collector south for diversion of NH 66 road at Arvale, Cortalim junction.
Further, they stated that it is shocking to note that traffic police are perpetually absent at a very busy traffic junction used, specially by the school, college-going children, and senior citizens exposed to the speeding NH66.
“On account of this criminal negligence by the contractor and the concerned authorities, we have recently lost life on the spot while the other person is battling for life in the hospital”, Simoes added.
Therefore we demand immediate action by the concerned authorities to prevent loss of life and compensate for the loss of life, failing which the people of Cortalim will be forced to resort to “Rasta Roko”, he added.
When contacted, Police Inspector Jitendra Naik, Vasco traffic cell in charge, informed that the traffic police are stationed at all busy junctions and refuted the allegations by the Congress committee.
Naik added that traffic from Vasco, Panaji and Verna cross through the Cortalim junctions during the peak hours, which slows down the traffic movement since the flyover work is in progress.
“Most of our staff has gone to Uttar Pradesh (UP) for election duty, and they will return by tomorrow. After this, more traffic police force will be deputed at the junctions if needed. We also must do safe driving to avoid any accidents, and we must avoid overspeeding on busy roads,” Naik added.
