Daijiworld Media Network - Vasco
Vasco, Oct 3: Speeding is suspected to have caused the Baina flyover accident that claimed the lives of rider Shirshill Talwar, 29, of Mangor-Hill and pillion rider Suvarna Koppal, 25, of Baina on Thursday night, Vasco police said on Friday.
Vasco PI Vaibhav Naik said Talwar was riding a Pulsar motorcycle towards Baina when he lost control while negotiating a sharp turn on the flyover. Both Talwar and Koppal fell around 30 feet from the flyover and died on the spot due to severe head injuries.
“The way the accident occurred, it could be assumed that the rider was speeding and failed to control his motorcycle on the sharp U-turn. Vasco police have registered an offence against the rider under various sections of BNS and Motor Vehicle Act,” Naik said.
Vasco traffic cell in-charge Alvito Rodrigues said the rider had exceeded the notified speed limit of 40 kmph at the accident-prone stretch.
“Despite proper signboards and speed limit signages, riders have failed to comply with the notified speed limits,” Rodrigues said.
He said he had proposed installing metal railings and crash barriers at the U-turn in coordination with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The proposal is under consideration.
“The metal railings could save lives of lots of motorists at Baina flyover,” Rodrigues said.
Rodrigues said NHAI had earlier installed metal railings at another section of the flyover after a motorist died when his two-wheeler plunged from the Vasco-bound up-ramp onto the railway track below.
He also suggested installing AI-based cameras to monitor vehicle speeds at the flyover and penalise violators.
“The fatal accident on Thursday could probably be a case of overspeeding, as the motorcycle was dragged few metres at the railing of the flyover. The matter is under investigation with Vasco police,” Rodrigues said.
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said he would recommend corrective measures and ask members of the Road Safety Council to inspect the accident-prone stretch.
Godinho said road infrastructure and safety measures were important, but responsible driving and adherence to traffic rules were equally crucial.
“Road Safety Council will examine the location and suggest short-term as well as long-term measures to improve safety at the accident-prone stretch. Goa has already addressed several identified black spots and the remaining locations are being reviewed,” he said.