Activists raise funds to install road safety gear at Colvale, Guirim

PANAJI: Road safety activists from the Goa Road Safety Forum (GRSF) will install radium belts, reflective barricades and signage at Colvale and Guirim stretch to alert motorists commuting at night about the possible hazards and turns in areas of poor visibility.

“Adequate road safety care has not been taken up by the PWD and the contractor of the ongoing roadwork at Colvale and Guirim. As per guidelines of the Indian Road Congress (IRC 55), wherever there are work zones, extra road safety must be ensured by putting barricades and signage. The contractor is not taking any precaution. Due to this, we are taking matters in our own hands,” said GRSF convenor, Dilip Naik.

The road safety gear will be installed by the forum on December 19.

The group of activists have identified ten spots in Guirim and six spots in Colvale which can cause potential road mishaps. These spots, they said, display no signage or designate any work zone safety.

“Moreover, on certain turns, barrels have been kept on the road to delineate the path but these are invisible at night. Also, the direction of where the traffic must flow is not clear during the day time. We will do whatever is possible to raise awareness and add the necessary safety gears like reflective barricades, reflective belts, and signage on the hazards on the road,” Naik said.

The members have raised money to pay for the road safety gear through personal funds.

Last month, GRSF had installed similar road safety gear in Ponda at the Curti bypass and near the Khadepar bridge. “We are also writing to Goa state road safety council of which the director of transport is the chairman about the negligence of the contractor and PWD, in the coming week.” Naik said.