‘Scrappage policy effectively implemented, private sector must also avail of it’
Special Correspondent
Panaji: Stating that the Vehicle Scrappage Policy has been implemented effectively in the government sector, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said the private sector should also take benefit of it.
Sawant said that the Goa Road Safety Policy will be strongly implemented through data-driven technology.
On curbing road accidents, Sawant said that the Transport Department is not just issuing challans but also taking steps to counsel violators.
“Around 4,700 drivers have already been given refresher training for traffic violations,”he said
Earlier, the CM inaugurated the new headquarters of the Directorate of Transport at the New Market Complex in Porvorim. Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho was present.
Sawant said that in the long run, innovation, technology and creativity would be helpful to the staff of the Directorate of Transport. He also said that the new office would help in cent per cent fast-tracking of public works in the department.
“Altogether 49 transport-related services have become Aadhaar-related services,” Sawant said, adding that the automated testing centre would become operational in the near future, while the new bus stand at Bicholim will be inaugurated soon. Godinho said it took 54 years for the headquarters of the Directorate of Transport to move from Junta House in Panaji to Porvorim.
“The government is now either building or renting new premises for its departments so as to provide a comfortable environment for employees, and therefore the related service to the public must also improve,” he said.
He said that most services of the Directorate are now available online and the next task is setting up a command and control centre.
“This centre would be operational in the shortest possible time, in spite of being delayed due to paucity of funds,” he said.
Godinho said that maximum locations in Goa would have AI-operated cameras to help regulate traffic as well as control crime, with darkness not acting as a cover.
He also said recommendations of the Road Safety Council had been followed, reducing road accidents.
“However, we are not satisfied and we don’t want even a single death by way of road accidents,” he said.
Secretary for Transport Mahesh Kumar Shambhu and Director of Transport Pravimal Abhishek were also present.
