TRIAL OF TRAFFIC CHANGES IN MARGAO EXTENDED DESPITE STRIKE CALL

MARGAO: Ignoring the strike call given by the All Goa Bus Owners Association, the Margao RTA has resolved to further experiment with the traffic changes till the school reopens next week and a final decision would be taken by the transport panel on 29th November.

Indicating that the authorities would not buckle under the threat of the strike on November 22, the meeting convened by the RTA, Margao commenced at 10.30 am in the absence of the aggrieved bus operators. And, when the bus operators finally made their presence felt for the meeting after 11 am, the RTA Chairman Johnson Fernandes point blank told the operators that the meeting has ended and reminded them that they were invited for the meeting at 10.30 am.

When contacted, Johnson told newsmen that there is not question of discontinuance of the traffic changes vis-à-vis the short distance route buses because of the strike call.  “I have received a report from the DySP Traffic stating that the changes have helped in the decongestion of the city. But, the RTA wants to still experiment with the changes for a week after the city schools reopens after the Diwali vacation. The RTA will meet again on November 29 to take stock of the situation”, he asserted.

On the All Goa bus strike call given by the bus operators on November 22, Johnson said he has orally communicated the threat to the District Magistrate, South to take appropriate action. “The authorities will decide whether to invoke the provisions of ESMA Act to meet the strike”, Johnson said.

Sources in the know said the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has personally approved of the traffic changes with the aim to decongest the heart of the city. In fact, Kamat is learnt to have convinced PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao that the traffic changes will not in any way affected the bus commuters from Davorlim, Housing Board, Navelim, but will help ease traffic congestion in the city.

The Chief Minister is believed to have taken personal interest in the implementation of the traffic changes and has issue stern warnings to the traffic personnel to help regulate the traffic in the city.  In fact, Kamat has directed the traffic higher-ups not to deploy traffic police personnel on the highways but instead put all the personnel in the city to regulate traffic in the city.(HD)