from Sanjay Borkar
for Daijiworld Media Network – Margao (SM/AF)

Margao, Jan 10: Following the accident of a bus on Tuesday January 8 morning at Fatorda Margao, which claimed the life of one student and injured many, chief minister Digamber Kamat agreed to form a task force to formulate a transport and traffic policy for the state.

On Tuesday the speeding passenger bus, which was overtaking another route bus, rammed in to a roadside house causing damages and claiming the life of a student. Last year too one school student had succumbed to injuries caused by the reckless driving of a bus driver.

Such incidents are common in the state, as the private buses are not controlled by any single authority. A committee which was formed to keep eye on erring drivers by the All-Goa Bus Owners' Association (AGBOA), was also paralyzed.

Now taking the cognizance of people's hue and cry over rise in such incidents, the chief minister has come up with the idea to keep watch on them by forming a task force.

No sooner the accident took place in the city than the AGBOA general secretary Avinash Shirodkar tendered his resignation. When contacted in this regard and the failure of buses to maintain the route timings, he blamed the government for not giving them enough support to maintain the same.

Most of the accidents take place in the evening as bus drivers drive the buses under the influence of alcohol. To curb this menace the traffic department and the police should use alcoholmeter, he said and stressed that the government should thoroughly work to implement the same.