MARGAO
Parents of wards studying in the schools in the heart of the commercial capital have a question or two for the authorities and the political class -- why is the Margao old bus stand not thrown open for the parents to park their vehicles when they come to collect their wards in the afternoon?
This question is being repeatedly asked by the parents since they are forced to park their vehicles alongside the roads in the absence of parking. In fact, one comes across host of vehicles parked opposite the State Bank of India, in front of the Margao post office etc and along the petrol pumps around noon for want of parking.
“We are being forced to park our vehicles on the roadside, sometimes in violation of the rules since there is not space left for parking in the city when we come to collect our wards after the schools end for the day”, remarked a parent.
She sought to know why the old bus stand is not being thrown up for parking of cars in the noon session by getting rid of the accident vehicles and the kiosks parked on the bus stand. “The old bus stand can be put to effective use to decongest the city during the afternoon session if the accident vehicles and the kiosks are removed from the bus stand. The kioks can return back at the place to conduct their routine business activities”, she added.
In fact, Margao traffic authorities sympathize with the sentiments aired by the beleaguered parents as they are left to hunt for parking space in the city, especially around noon when they come to collect their wards.
“We share the concern of the parents. In fact, the old bus stand is an ideal place for parking of vehicles of parents who come to collect their wards. This issue had come up for discussions during traffic safety meetings with members favouring opening up of the old bus stand for vehicular parking of parents during the afternoon session. Somehow, the proposal did not move forward for want of political will to free the old bus stand from the accident vehicles and the kiosks”, informed a senior official.
