Demand for better public transport, connectivity and road safety within the State of Goa
Decision maker:
Department of Transport - Shri. Mauvin Godinho, Minister for Transport, Goa
Shri. Francisco Antonio Vaz, Assistant Director of Transport, Headquarters, Panjim
Update:
We filed an RTI to the transport department of the state in October, and recently received a response with the numbers of accidents, and challan reports from 2018 up until September 2023. The numbers are concerning to say the least - there’s been an extremely high rate of accidents in the state, and a dipping number of reports and challans filed!
What is the issue?
Goa is facing a crisis on its roads; the sight of an accident is no longer uncommon. In the month of October, two horrific cases caused the death of 6 and grievously injured 5 people. The survivors are left physically disabled and on a long and painful road to recovery, while the families who have lost their loved ones are left to grieve with no resolution in sight!
Many such incidents are blamed solely on individuals while the systemic problems faced on our roads in Goa fall by the wayside. It is time we call for our governance to address these problems and create and implement clear and strategic action plans to better transportation within the state!
Goa needs to provide safe alternatives to private vehicle ownership! A state marketed as a party destination by its government should also create systems for responsible drinking and road safety.
86.7% of households in Goa own private vehicles, almost double in comparison to the national average of 49.7%. This is evident in the rising traffic congestion on our highways, a problem that the government is trying to solve by constantly expanding roads and highways and further encouraging the ownership of private vehicles. The number of accidents per lakh population in Goa is 217.7, almost six times the national average of 35.9.
The vision document of the Department of Transport states that its mission is “Establishment of an efficient, transparent and modernized transport administration to ensure safe, secure, efficient, affordable, speedy, movement of people and goods.” Our transport is not safe, efficient or affordable. One of their short-term goals for 2021 was to “Create Institutional set up of full fledged Road Safety Cell with Road Engineering, Traffic experts to reduce road fatalities and improve enforcement.” It is unclear if these have been set up, and it is evident that this goal has not been achieved as of yet.
Goa is a land of turquoise oceans and irreplaceable forests, a haven for its resident communities and those coming here for some time of rest and relaxation.
Let's urge our government to:
On priority, fix all potholes, speed breakers, traffic lights and road signage.
Rethink Goa’s transportation system to provide safe, accessible and comfortable alternatives to private vehicle ownership using a mix of motorised and non-motorised transportation solutions for the public.
Discourage and penalise dangerous driving and those not following traffic regulations, focusing on creating safer and accessible modes of transportation, especially for those under the influence or travelling at night.
Sources:
Demand for better public transport, connectivity and road safety within the State of Goa
Decision maker:
Department of Transport - Shri. Mauvin Godinho, Minister for Transport, Goa
Shri. Francisco Antonio Vaz, Assistant Director of Transport, Headquarters, Panjim
Update:
We filed an RTI to the transport department of the state in October, and recently received a response with the numbers of accidents, and challan reports from 2018 up until September 2023. The numbers are concerning to say the least - there’s been an extremely high rate of accidents in the state, and a dipping number of reports and challans filed!
What is the issue?
Goa is facing a crisis on its roads; the sight of an accident is no longer uncommon. In the month of October, two horrific cases caused the death of 6 and grievously injured 5 people. The survivors are left physically disabled and on a long and painful road to recovery, while the families who have lost their loved ones are left to grieve with no resolution in sight!
Many such incidents are blamed solely on individuals while the systemic problems faced on our roads in Goa fall by the wayside. It is time we call for our governance to address these problems and create and implement clear and strategic action plans to better transportation within the state!
Goa needs to provide safe alternatives to private vehicle ownership! A state marketed as a party destination by its government should also create systems for responsible drinking and road safety.
86.7% of households in Goa own private vehicles, almost double in comparison to the national average of 49.7%. This is evident in the rising traffic congestion on our highways, a problem that the government is trying to solve by constantly expanding roads and highways and further encouraging the ownership of private vehicles. The number of accidents per lakh population in Goa is 217.7, almost six times the national average of 35.9.
The vision document of the Department of Transport states that its mission is “Establishment of an efficient, transparent and modernized transport administration to ensure safe, secure, efficient, affordable, speedy, movement of people and goods.” Our transport is not safe, efficient or affordable. One of their short-term goals for 2021 was to “Create Institutional set up of full fledged Road Safety Cell with Road Engineering, Traffic experts to reduce road fatalities and improve enforcement.” It is unclear if these have been set up, and it is evident that this goal has not been achieved as of yet.
Goa is a land of turquoise oceans and irreplaceable forests, a haven for its resident communities and those coming here for some time of rest and relaxation.
Let's urge our government to:
On priority, fix all potholes, speed breakers, traffic lights and road signage.
Rethink Goa’s transportation system to provide safe, accessible and comfortable alternatives to private vehicle ownership using a mix of motorised and non-motorised transportation solutions for the public.
Discourage and penalise dangerous driving and those not following traffic regulations, focusing on creating safer and accessible modes of transportation, especially for those under the influence or travelling at night.
Sources: