PANAJI: In a bid to ease the traffic congestion and chaos at the Divja circle in Patto, the Panaji traffic cell has effected a change in the traffic plan for the area.
Buses leaving the Panaji KTC bus stand will now have to use the new Old Goa bypass road from the Merces junction circle instead of the Ribandar causeway that was being used until now. The buses will use the Ribandar causeway only to enter Panaji from the Old Goa side.
Speaking to TOI, Panaji traffic PI Dharmesh Angle, who has formulated the plan, said "Buses proceeding to Chimbel, Marcel, Old Goa and Ponda that would start at the KTC bus stand and proceed via the Ribandar causeway would wait at the Divja circle. This used to cause a traffic problem."
Angle said while he was studying the issue, he observed that these buses used to encounter multiple clash points near the bus stand, at the foot of the bridge and near the Divja circle. He said that in a day, the circle witnesses a total of almost 850 stops by buses proceeding towards Ribandar through the causeway.
According to the new plan, all buses that were using the causeway to leave the city, will now have to use the new Old Goa bypass. The buses will then turn and meet the existing route on the Ribandar end of the causeway. A traffic policeman has been stationed there to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
The new plan effectively means people who used to alight or board buses at the Divja circle will now have to do so at the KTC bus stand.
Angle urged the public to cooperate as the new plan will improve the traffic situation and thereby save commuters time and fuel.
Roland Martins of civic action group GOACAN termed the move as "a good attempt to divert traffic from the narrow (causeway) road." He felt the buses, which used to stop at the Divja circle for passengers, had led to a few accidents and this would now be avoided.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/New-plan-for-Panaji-Old-Goa-traffic/articleshow/17975780.cms
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