PANAJI
When the world is celebrating World Environment Day and arranging cycle rallies to promote non-polluting and healthy lifestyles. The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has still not been successful in taking ahead the move which was initiated long back to make some zones non-motorised.NoMoZo was the concept or movement that was initiated by the CCP, and the CCP had plans to make 18 June road a non-motorised road. Also, there were plans to make a Cafe Bhonsle square non-motorised.
The CCP has dropped the plans to make Cafe Bhonsle square non-motorised due to opposition from commercial establishments around the square. And the plans to make 18 June road NoMoZo is still under consideration.
It may be recalled that the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Council (IPSCDL) had plans to make the Cafe Bhonsle square a non-motorised zone (NoMoZo) or pedestrian zone. This plan was dropped as the stakeholders, especially the commercial establishments, have raised objections with an apprehension that it will affect their business.
"The administration has dropped the plan to make Cafe Bhonsle square a NoMoZo owing to objections from stakeholders," said Deputy Mayor Sanjeev Naik.
"However only the beautification of the square and ductwork will be done," he added.
"The stakeholders feel that making the area a pedestrian zone will affect their businesses adversely. However, a proposal for making the 18 June road a NoMoZo is still under consideration," said Naik.
The apprehension that NoMoZo will affect the business is not correct. The tourists and people will love to walk on the streets and there will be more customers to the stores around, said the Municipal Engineer Vivek Parsekar.
Despite the IPSCDL having a presentation and comprehensive parking plan, the administration was not able to convince the stakeholders to support the NoMoZo.
