Margao, April 6: Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat Today alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant which has failed to provide proper motorable roads has increased penalties for traffic violations further pushing a common man into financial disaster.

Reacting sharply to the notification issued by the BJP Government to hike the fines for traffic violations, Mr. Kamat demanded immediate rollback of the same and warned of leading public agitation to oppose the government move.

‘It is the duty of the government to first provide motorable roads with equal facilities for pedestrians. The vehicle owners pay road tax to the government towards safe and secure infrastructure. Unfortunately, the roads in Goa are in a pathetic condition for the last nine years,’ he said.

Mr. Kamat said Chief Minister must take responsibility for the casualties and fatal accidents taking place in Goa due to bad roads and worst traffic management and the government must also increase the compensation to injured and those who succumb to accidents due to faulty roads and traffic management.

‘The entire stretch from Patradevi to Polem and Vasco to Mollem has become a “Death Zone” with hundreds of people losing lives in road accidents. The internal roads all across Goa are in the worst conditions. The insensitive and irresponsible Government is just not bothered about the people who are already facing financial crisis due to Covid pandemic and have gone ahead in increasing the fines to fill the empty coffers of the government,’ he said.

‘The BJP Government should study the history of agitations in Goa. People’s power has always emerged supreme. The government must act sensibly and immediately put on hold the implementation of the notification failing which they will have to face public ire,’ the former Chief Minister said. (UNI)