INCREASING TRAFFIC WOES, EVERYWHERE.......

I had a 2-wheel scooter in the nineties and in which all four of us, my wife, daughter, son and myself, used to ride a distance of about 6 km to Panaji city from Goa University campus via Taleigao, almost twice a week, especially to purchase our regularly used provisions and vegetables. Goa University was fairly new then and, with no shops around and hardly any public transport facility, scooter ride was inevitable to Panaji city. Rain or sun, we rode the scooter, for nearly a decade! A 4-wheel drive car got into our fold towards end of nineties. Traffic was much less then, be it Panjim city or on national highways. Also, everyone was careful on the road.  It is indeed astonishing when looked back; we drove about 270 thousand kilometers in our cars last sixteen years. These are now history...

First decade of this century, lot of water flew in the rivers of our country. Several vehicle manufacturing companies set up shops in India and at periodic intervals rolled out attractive 4-wheel drive speedsters, from nano to high-end sedans. Similar has been the 2-wheelers. Vehicles were sold at competitive prices. There are affordable car loans and attractive exchange offers. Today, one can own a vehicle of choice at ease.....

What about the roads? Though 4-lane and 6-lane motorways were initiated in some parts of our country in the beginning of last decade, not much water has flown in this regard everywhere. Road building did not match the car building. Even those roads built earlier did not see enough repairs and asphalts, especially in the suburban and rural sectors. It was mostly patchwork repairs everywhere. Net result is numerous vehicles on the roads and chaotic traffic due to narrow and bad roads......

Come to Panaji city. Hundreds of 2- and 4-wheel drive vehicles zoom from all corners to the State capital. Everyone is in a hurry; vehicles overtake from front, left and right sides in equal speed and alacrity. One will be lucky if manages to cross the road easily in our cross roads and traffic circles in Panaji and in any corner of the city. Almost all traffic circles and cross roads get clogged with vehicles most often, especially office hours. There are no operating traffic signal lights, in most circles, even in peak hours. It is worrisome and needs immediate attention.....

We drove to Mangalore during Diwali holidays. I avoided the first day thinking that there would be heavy traffic on the road. Surprisingly, other days were no better. The coastal highway from Panaji to Mangalore through all major towns, viz. Karwar, Kumta, Honnavar, Bhatkal and Udupi, the road was full of vehicles, round the day. Like me numerous others; it looked as though everyone was on the road. Vehicles sped in such hurry in all directions and on all sides. I took more than 9 hours to reach Mangalore, a distance of 360 km which we used to cover in 7 hours earlier. Fortunately, the coastal highway from Karwar to down south is now getting widened and will soon become a 4-lane highway.

I had visited some cities and suburbans of northern Thailand and Dubai during past 4 years. These places are marked by well-planned, well-laid and sufficiently wide roads and efficiently managed traffic. Unlike us, people over there exhibit lot of patience and decency on the road and none violates traffic rules.

We in India need strict traffic regulations and road management. Otherwise, in the coming days, it will be more and more chaotic on the roads....

D. Jayarama Bhat