Drivers penalised for violatinglane rule on new Zuari bridge

Staff Reporter

Vasco

Cracking down on traffic rule violators, the Vasco traffic cell on Tuesday penalised light motor vehicle drivers using the new Zuari bridge to proceed towards Margao.

As per the guidelines issued during the opening of the new bridge, only heavy vehicles are permitted to use the bridge on the Panaji to Margao route. Two-wheelers and light motor vehicles are expected to use the old bridge, which has been converted into a one-way bridge. However, all types of vehicles are allowed to ply on the Margao to Panaji route.

The traffic cell, headed by South Goa Superintendent of Police Bossuet De Silva, fined 144 vehicles and collected revenue of around `72,000 on Tuesday. Besides, 130 vehicle drivers will be sent notices to pay the penalty, police said.

Interestingly, driver of an Anti Terror Squad (ATS) vehicle was also penalised for using the new Zuari bridge to proceed towards Margao. Later, clarifying on the situation, an ATS officer claimed that the vehicle proceeded in the direction after seeing a commotion-like situation.

 “It was a proactive decision to see if there was any kind of a law and order situation. However, it turned out to be a traffic drive,” he said.

As the drive continued, it led to a long queue of vehicles on the bridge. The drive held on Tuesday was specifically conducted for the third lane of the new Zuari bridge, which is meant for the use of heavy vehicles only.

Speaking about the drive, De Silva said, “Five months back, we opened the new Zuari bridge for public. It has three lanes. Two lanes are used by vehicles travelling from Vasco and Margao to Panaji. The third lane is only for the use of heavy vehicles proceeding from Panaji to Margao.”

Stating that information about the lanes has already been provided to the public through notifications and advertisements, and barricades have also been placed, De Silva said that people continue to violate the traffic norm. He said the ATS vehicle has not been fined but the driver has been independently challaned, as he was responsible to drive carefully.

He said the drive will continue till such time that the people start following the rules properly. “We had placed two policemen on duty at Agassaim to stop vehicles from entering the third lane of the new bridge. One of the policemen was almost knocked down by a four-wheeler. We cannot put the lives of our policemen in danger. So we decided to take up this drive,” De Silva said.