With little dedicated parking available in the area, citizens and motorists visiting these establishments routinely parked along roadsides, contributing to traffic congestion and daily snarls.
The concept envisaged by the then civic leadership was straightforward: retain the bus stand and existing small-scale commercial activities at ground level while developing a vertical parking facility above to cater to the growing demand for vehicle parking in the city centre.
More than 26 years later, that vision appears to have been shelved permanently. The iconic Old Margao Bus Stand is now set to cease operations in the coming months, with the sprawling property — considered prime real estate in the city worth crores of rupees — earmarked for redevelopment as a hub for fast-food stalls and daily vendors.
Architect Rammani, accompanied by officials from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Margao Municipal Chief Officer Madhu Narvekar and engineers, inspected the Old Bus Stand on Saturday to review the redevelopment plans.
Rammani made it clear that the site would no longer function as either a bus stand or a parking facility. “The Old Bus Stand was de-notified by the district Collector years ago, though buses continued to use the premises. Once the redevelopment project takes shape, there will be no bus stand or parking at the site,” he said.
He also ruled out any provision for vehicle parking within the redeveloped premises, a decision likely to raise concerns among residents and other city stakeholders.
The issue assumes significance given the strategic location of the Old Bus Stand, which currently serves as a key parking and drop-off point for visitors to the district police headquarters, Margao Police Station, the Post Office, Gomant Vidya Niketan and the Municipal Garden. Parents dropping off and picking up children from nearby schools are also likely to be affected.
With parking already at a premium in the city centre, questions are bound to be raised over how authorities plan to address the parking needs of visitors to these establishments once the Old Bus Stand is converted into a dedicated food and vending zone.
For, while fast food stalls do roaring business at the Old Bus Stand in the evenings, the place is used for parking purpose by visitors to these establishments.
Prime Margao land for gaddas sparks fresh controversy
Architect Rammani said the project would be executed by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) with central funding and support from the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA).
He said the existing gaddas would be neatly arranged at the Old Bus Stand and would be required to pay sopo fees. However, he later told a gadda owner displaced by the 1997 High Court order that the vendors accommodated at the site could be treated as permanent.
The remarks have raised fresh questions over the use of a prime public property, worth crores of rupees, for gaddas when the Margao Municipal Council has already acquired a dedicated site at the Old Market for their rehabilitation.
“The project will be executed by the GSIDC with central funding. The GSUDA is also involved in securing the funds,” Rammani said.
