Seeks de-notification of old NH66 passing through Nuvem
MARGAO
The South Goa District Road Safety Committee, chaired by MP Capt. Viriato Fernandes, has proposed the re-examination of the Verna flyover as well as the Dandeavaddo flyover on National Highway 66.
The meeting has also recommended de-notifying the old NH66 passing through Nuvem village in view of the commissioning of the Nuvem bypass and dropping plans to acquire land on the old highway road.
The meeting, chaired by the South Goa MP, was attended by South district Collector Egna Cleetus, district police Chief SP Sunita Sawant, DySP Traffic Rajendra Prabhudesai, Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar, the GOACAN team comprising Roland Martins and Lorna Fernandes, besides representatives of government departments.
GOACAN Coordinator Roland Martins drew the Chair’s attention to the Verna flyover proposed by the government to decongest traffic on NH66. Saying that the Verna flyover is proposed to be dropped near the petrol pump, Martins said this will result in accidents involving the local populace.
Instead, he suggested that the Verna flyover be extended right down to the Pirnim junction, keeping in mind future traffic requirements.
Similarly, the road safety panel deliberated on the representation made by the Chinchinim Panchayat, demanding a bypass road instead of a flyover at the Dandeavaddo junction. The panel has decided to request the government and the National Highway Authority to re-examine the Verna flyover and the Dandeavaddo-Chinchinim flyover by making the necessary changes.
The South Goa MP pointed out that the National Highway Authority is not taking the local populace, including the local bodies and traffic officials, into confidence while planning the highway road alignments.
“They build the highways and move out, leaving the traffic to monitor and find ways to reduce accidents. This can be avoided if traffic experts and the local bodies are taken into confidence,” he added.
The panel has also decided that the NOC needs to be obtained from the Navy in connection with the Dabolim flyover.
On the old NH66 at Nuvem, the MP said the joint inspection report needs to be implemented, given that the highway traffic has been diverted to the western bypass. He further insisted on the illumination of the western bypass as a priority.
After the issue was raised by Roland Martins, the MP underscored the need to provide an office for the Bureau of Indian Standards in Goa to help the officials maintain checks on the sale of fake helmets, which contribute to fatalities.
Panel to promote Good Samaritan scheme
MARGAO: The Good Samaritan scheme, launched by the government to help and assist road accident victims, has found favour with the South Goa Road Safety Panel, headed by South Goa MP Capt. Viriato Fernandes.
The Panel has resolved to spread awareness about the Good Samaritan scheme as well as the road accident insurance scheme among people on a war footing.
The Good Samaritan scheme has a provision to reward anyone with Rs 5,000 who comes to the help of a road accident victim. Similarly, he pointed out that not many people are aware of the road accident insurance scheme, wherein a sum of Rs 2.5 lakh compensation is given to the kith and kin of a person who dies in a road accident.
