(Another Letter To Herald Editor sent on 2/7/2011 that may never be published)
The blame for the rise in road accidents along the National Highway at Porvorim
must entirely rest on the TCP, Collector and local Village Panchayats which
have been mindlessly permitting an increase in the population density by
abetting the construction of huge housing complexes and commercial hubs in
close proximity to the NH. The NH17 has been punctured every few metres and
citizens are compelled to use their private vehicles due to poor bus service.
The NH service lanes have become a car park with more and more showrooms and
service stations being set up. Parallel roads of 10 metres which were earlier
notified on both sides of the NH were gradually denotified to facilitate
builders. Coupled with all this is the reckless driving with absolutely no
respect for basic road rules.
-Soter D'Souza
Socorro
