Daijiworld Media Network – Porvorim

Porvorim, Jul 24: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday revealed that Goa witnessed 261 road accidents between January and June this year. He was replying in writing to a query raised by MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira during the ongoing monsoon session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.

Highlighting the state government’s road safety efforts, Sawant informed the House that a joint study by the state administration and the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had helped identify several accident-prone zones and black spots across national highways, state highways, and other roads.

A list of 43 critical zones—22 in North Goa (including 14 black spots) and 21 in South Goa (including 16 black spots)—has already been submitted to the PWD for necessary engineering interventions and safety upgrades. Notably, nine black spots fall within the jurisdiction of the Panaji traffic cell, the CM added.

To curb accidents and ensure smoother vehicular movement, the government has deployed traffic units and police personnel at strategic intersections and vulnerable points across the state. These personnel monitor traffic, conduct on-the-spot checks, and enforce safety norms strictly under the Motor Vehicles Act.

CM Sawant further said that targeted enforcement drives and random inspections are being regularly conducted, especially at known black spots and high-accident corridors.

During the first six months of 2025 alone, over 1.2 lakh traffic violations were booked—already accounting for 30% of the total violations registered in all of 2024, which stood at over 4 lakh.

The state government continues to collaborate with various departments, including PWD, National Highway authorities, and local self-governing bodies, to implement engineering solutions, signage improvements, and road repairs aimed at reducing accident risks and improving road safety.