On vehicle use
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has urged states to permit the use of private two-wheelers by gig workers. As per law, this is not allowed. But the states’ transport authorities are aware that people already use private vehicles (two-, three- and four-wheelers) for commercial purposes. For example, to transport schoolchildren and office goers, deliver goods and materials and so forth. People use their private vehicles to make money or avoid spending on hiring legalised carriers. The authorities need to know that issues may crop up if a private vehicle used for public services gets involved in an accident. Will the insurance companies compensate the drivers and those injured/deceased, as the vehicle was illegally used? If goods carried by the vehicle get damaged or stolen, can the owner seek payouts from insurance companies? Will the driver of the unlawfully used private vehicle be held responsible even if it is not his/her fault? Till the ministry and the states address such tricky situations and bring out relevant laws, people would continue to use their vehicles for gainful purposes.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Mapusa’s traffic woes
Converting the Karaswada junction to Mapusa bus stand road into a one-way lane could help reduce the frequent traffic bottlenecks in the town. Planning is badly needed, as the route has existed since the Portuguese era. At least from the Mapusa civil court junction to the town’s bus stand, a one-way system should be planned to ease traffic. The Karaswada junction and the approaches to the Mapusa bus stand experience heavy rush-hour gridlocks due to the converging of regional and local buses. One-way traffic is the need of the hour. Considering the potential benefits, a one-way system may streamline heavy public transport movement and lower intersection conflicts. Currently, the local traffic police periodically adjust signal timings and diversion rules rather than declaring a permanent one-way corridor on this important stretch.
Rajesh Banaulikar, Arpora
Car seat belts
The Supreme Court has rightly said that wearing seat belts in moving vehicles is a bare minimum for safety and it is the duty of the governments to enforce the rule. Wearing a seat belt is not only a legal obligation, but it is also a moral duty. Laxity in law implementation is the root cause of people ignoring seat belts. Gory accidents are claiming precious lives which otherwise could have been saved if the deceased had worn a seat belt. Seat belts minimise secondary impact and maintain passenger positioning. Passengers in a car are moving at the speed of the car as a single unit and when the car stops due to an external impact and suddenly loses momentum, the passengers still tend to move unless there is a system to prevent them from moving. Unfortunately, it is common to see even drivers inserting the webbing and the latch plate to the buckle without actually using it themselves.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Twin towers
The proposed viewing gallery atop the twin towers of Goa’s iconic Zuari Bridge promises to add a spectacular new dimension to the state’s tourism landscape. The twin towers, rising to a height of 125 metres, are expected to offer visitors an impressive panoramic view of the Zuari River and its surrounding landscape. While one of the floors is planned to accommodate a restaurant, another floor will have a conference hall. Thousands of visitors could potentially make their way to the towers every day, particularly during the tourist season. Most visitors are likely to arrive in private cars, taxis, tourist buses and other vehicles. Hence, the resulting demand for parking could be enormous. The locations around Cortalim and Agassaim are already heavily congested. Both areas have considerable traffic movement and limited open space. Hundreds of additional vehicles could obviously create serious traffic and parking problems. The government should immediately identify and acquire, wherever necessary, suitable open land in the vicinity for properly planned parking facilities. Separate parking arrangements for cars, tourist buses, taxis and two-wheelers could help prevent chaos. A shuttle service from designated parking areas to the towers could also be considered. During peak tourist periods, a system of advance booking could further help regulate visitor numbers and traffic. Traffic-management plans, pedestrian safety measures, emergency access and adequate entry and exit points should be put in place well before the viewing gallery opens to the public. The towers may rise 125 metres into the sky, but their success will ultimately depend on how well the government manages what happens on the ground.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
