The roads of Goa

ROAD GRIEF IN GOA

Mentally back in Goa after a hectic time in Dilli with annas, babas and ammas. And back also to more mundane things like traffic and roads. It’s been five years in Goa and the same irritants continue – narrow roads and ever increasing traffic. Widening of roads is not such a herculean task in most other states as they have proper procedures for land acquisition for ‘Public Purpose’ in place. Even though there may be a few stay orders, in the end it still is smooth going. The same cannot be said of Goa. Like the Romans had the Via Appia covering most of present day Italy, Goa has the two National Highways, 17 and 4A, which are critical to the development of the state. The four laning of these highways has been a point of discussion these last five years – that’s it – only discussion and no progress in construction! The hold-up – land acquisition! Apart from the highways, there is hardly any effort at widening many of the arterial roads in the five major cities (Panaji, Margao, Vasco da Gama, Ponda and Mapusa) and once again the hold-up is land acquisition or a lack of political will for land acquisition. It is surprising that land is given away to illegal settlers but land cannot be taken for legitimate public purposes! Let us now examine Vasco – any mishap on the one main road from Chicalim and Vasco is sealed - the alternatives being to use the Mangor Hill or New Vaddem-Shantinagar roads to enter/exit. But, these roads are too narrow and at best fit for two wheeler traffic and definitely not for the commercial vehicles operating to/from the Port. And this has happened not once, but a number of times. However, despite all this, the balance work for NH 17B has been dragging on for all these years. To compound the problem, road users throw traffic sense and road rules to the wind – to wit, the turn indicators are considered to be decorative lighting provided under the MV Act, the Speed Limit signs are meant for the birds and traffic police are thought to be waving out to their friends! Is it not surprising then that Goa being considered the best in the country (amongst small states) on development indices and per capita state GDP cannot provide for sufficient traffic police, traffic signals, highway patrols, funds for road development (including land acquisition), proper road signage, direction boards to all the tourist attractions in appropriate places and more importantly, a better quality licensing system for prospective drivers. The residents of Vasco can hark back to as many years as they wish and recall when the Airport Road was in a good condition – how many years does it take to improve a length of road which is less than 2 km? The pristine countryside of the state is still marred by garish bill boards (hoardings in local lingo) – cannot the civic administrators understand the importance of preserving their environment? Does the Government have any idea of the holding capacity of the state for vehicles (parking plus road capacity) and if it does then why is there unrestricted sale/registration of vehicles in the state? Why is the registration fee for vehicles not being increased to a prohibitive level? Why is no toll being levied for entering certain busy areas in the five major cities? Why is there no paid parking (make the rates exorbitant) in the busy commercial areas (for example, Church Square, MG Road & 18^th June Road in Panaji) of these cities? Why is there no development of markets (for example, residents of Chicalim, Dabolim, Bogmalo, Issorcim & Sancoale have to come to Vasco for all their needs which adds to the chaotic traffic situation) in satellite townships and neighboring towns/villages? Isn’t it time the TCP and PDAs get their act together and take corrective action?

KALI