MARGAO
Does it require rocket science to resolve Margao’s traffic and parking woes? Pose this question to the traffic cops and apt comes a reply - no, not at all.
In fact, they concede that small measures here and there can go a long way in streamlining and regulating traffic and parking in the heart of the commercial capital during peak school hours.
So, what’s the hitch that has come in the way of improving traffic and parking in the city “ political interference or simply lethargy by the authorities including the Margao Municipal Council and the Public Works Department? Or, is it simply that the authorities have sacrificed the city’s interest just to serve their own interests and the interests of their political masters?
Officials in the know in private say there have been meetings galore on ways and means to address Margao’s traffic and parking tangle over the years but in vain. A report.
Margao old bus stand
Why is the iconic old Margao bus stand not effectively put to use for parking of vehicles of parents as well as a drop and pick up point for the students? The question may appear insignificant to politicians and officials but can help decongest traffic during school peak hours.
Is it because the police and the Margao Municipal Council do not want to antagonize the politicians because of the vote bank? Otherwise, how does one explain that the fast food kiosks are just abandoned at the bus stand when the licence conditions mandate the owners to tow their carts back to their place of residence after business hours?
According to the traffic officials, the traffic cell has written several letters and sent reminders to the Margao Municipal Council to clear the bus stand of the kiosks, at least from morning to afternoon, so that the bus stand space is used for drop and pick up facility for the school students and parking.
Margao Municipal inspectors, on the other hand, in private say they cannot initiate action against the fast food kiosks simply because of the fear that politicians may pull them up for enforcing the licence conditions.
A week ago, the old bus stand was inspected by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, Margao civic chief Damu Shirodkar, besides civic and traffic officials, throwing up a moot question -- whether the MLA and the civic chief had issued any instructions to the MMC officials to clear the bus stand of the kiosks after business hours.
It’s now a week since the inspection, but has the ground reality changed for the better at the bus stand? Has the MMC got the owners to tow away their kiosks to their place of residence after business hours as per the licence conditions? Who are the politicians that scuttle attempts to enforce the licence conditions at the bus stand?
"Clearing the fast food kiosks from the old bus stand in the morning session can work wonders in mitigating the traffic woes. Let the kiosks come and do business during their normal timings at 4 pm or 5 pm. The Old bus stand offers a ray of hope to bring about changes, only if the politicians pay heed to the ground reality,” a traffic official commented.
Comba railway crossing
Will the PWD Officials including Executive Engineer Swapnil Desai and his team explain to Madgavkars whether the gaddas located near the Comba railway crossing cause obstruction to traffic when the railway gate is closed for Vehicular traffic?
What has stopped the PWD executive engineer and his team from clearing the gaddas, including a Goa Dairy booth, which is now converted into a juice shop, located on the government property (road widening area)? Will the PWD officials explain the fate of the notices issued to the three gaddas located adjoining the Comba railway crossing? Why was no action initiated against the structures when the PWD had issued notices to the kiosks, including a Horticulture Corporation stall? Or, is it simply that the PWD has wilted under pressure from the politicians and powers that be so as not to antagonize the vote bank?
These and other questions have been the talking point amongst students, parents and the management of the schools playing host to thousands of students, studying in institutes imparting education, right from kindergarten to post-graduation. For, traffic congestion at the railway crossing is aggravated every time vehicles make a halt at the kiosks.
Multi-level parking project
When will the multi-level parking project finally see the light of day, is a question often asked in city circles with vehicular parking turning from bad to worse with each passing day.
For, the multi-level parking project has been hanging fire over the last two years since the time the Margao Municipal Council handed over the project to GSUDA for execution. The project soon courted controversy after a determined bid was made to set up a restaurant on the top floor of the multi-level parking building. It’s another matter that the restaurant proposal has been finally dropped and the project has been finally tendered by the GSUDA.
However, though the project is finally tendered, officials say it may take a minimum of two years for the project to see the light of the day. “Till such time when the parking project is ready, we will have to consider stop-gap arrangements to ease traffic and parking issues plaguing the city,” remarked a traffic official.
