PONDA TOPS THE LIST OF ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

PONDA: So far with 28 deaths, Ponda, the cultural capital of Goa, has topped the list of accidents and fatalities in Goa this year. The increase in accidents is mainly attributed to the mushrooming of mining activities consequently increasing the traffic manifold and diversion of the heavy traffic through Ponda via Borim Bridge, which is the only bridge in Goa catering to the heavy vehicle.  The bad, narrow and disproportionate roads, more curves, absence of street lights, and lack of patience among the motorists have led to the swelling number of accidents here.

The Ponda traffic police inspector, Mr Salim Shaikh said, “Ponda is also a truck town. All the heavy traffic, coming from Maharashtra moves through Ponda at various places and especially to the port town, Vasco via Borim bridge.’’  “The closure of Zuari Bridge for heavy traffic has also put pressure on this route. Heavy goods vehicles entering the state from Karnataka too take this route for the link of bridge and therefore vehicular traffic is more on the narrow roads here and hence the increase in accidents,’’ explained Mr Shaikh, who is posted here since the last two and a half months.

He agreed that over speeding is also a reason for the accidents.  “There is a lack of patience among the motorists. The two-wheeler riders sneak onto the busy roads and often collide with the speeding trucks, which carry material to and fro from the three industrial estates of Kundaim, Marcaim and Bethora. And what adds to the accidents are the narrow roads here,” opined police inspector from Ponda, Mr C L Patil.

Similar are the views of the Collem police inspector, Mr Manoj Mardolkar. He said that most of the accident victims are the two-wheeler riders and pillion riders.  “The mining truck drivers speed the vehicles for few extra bucks in business and the result is there for everybody to see — accidents and fatalities,” said a citizen. The four-lane road will minimise the accidents in the area. There has to be separate routes for mining and heavy trucks,” suggested the traffic police inspector, Mr Shaikh adding that the Goa’s present roads are designed for only a speed of 60 km per hour.(NT)