MARGAO, Feb 3(TOI): South Goa district witnessed a sharp rise of nearly 20% in cases of fatal accidents in 2010 as compared to such cases in 2009.

Altogether 135 fatal accidents took place in 2010, up from 113 reported in 2009. These figures were provided by the traffic police authorities to the South Goa traffic regulatory committee (TRC) at its meeting chaired by the district magistrate G P Naik at the South Goa collectorate recently. The committee expressed concern over what it termed as an "alarming situation" and stressed the need to come out with a solution in that regard.

Further, 1,896 traffic accidents took place in 2010, implying a rise of 5.22% from those reported in 2009.

The traffic authorities identified Sontrant junction, Cortalim, Agnel Ashram and Titan junction, Verna, besides, Cuncolim, Curchorem, Balli, and Karmalghat areas as "accident prone zones."

The minutes of the meeting point out that the committee was informed by the traffic authorities that while over-speeding and overtaking were the main causes of the accidents, some accidents occurred due to "improper roads which were not scientifically done."

The committee observed that construction of traffic islands was necessary at most road junctions and directed executive engineer NH XIV, PWD, to explore the feasibility of this proposal on a priority basis with a view to minimizing the accidents.

Titan junction, petrol pump junction, Agnel Ashram, Cansaulim-Verna junction and Upasnagar junction were identified by the TRC to be taken up for constructing traffic islands on a priority basis.

The TRC was informed by the traffic authorities that, as most pedestrians refrain from using the subways for crossing the roads, lives are lost on the roads. 89 lives were killed in such manner during the year 2010, it was pointed out.

The committee also considered issuing notification to prevent parking of vehicles on national highways, state highways and major district roads.