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LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED
* Flying of drones and paragliding and hot air balloons prohibited
* Ban order covers distance of 100 kms from the venue ie entire State
* Apart from regular and VVIP flights, no additional flight allowed
* Parking of all vehicles from the airport to Cavelossim banned
* Shops and establishments located close to three hotels will be shut
* No parking on the entire road from Dabolim airport to Margao, Colva, Benaulim
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The district administration has also banned extra flight landing and taking off from the Dabolim airport, other than the regular flights and flights bringing the VVIPs and officials for the BRICS summit.
Meanwhile, the police on Wednesday conducted a mock drill of various agencies, including police and traffic, to check the efficacy of the arrangements in place, even as the district police chief, SP Shekhar Prabhudesai has said that roads will not be closed for traffic during the two-day summit.
South Goa district Collector Swapnil Naik told The Goan on Wednesday that the flying of drones and paragliding and hot air balloons have been prohibited during the BRICS summit on security grounds. “This precautionary measure has been taken as part of the security arrangements put in place by the authorities for the ensuing summit,” Naik said, adding that the ban order would cover the entire State since the ban would be enforced at a distance of 100 kms from the venue.
He further said that besides the regular flights and flights bringing the VVIPs to the venue, no additional flight will take off or land at the Dabolim airport.
Replying to a question, he said that while the district administration has banned parking of all vehicles from the airport to Cavelossim, shops and establishments located very close to the three hotels will be shut down during the summit. “Only those shops and establishment located very close to the Taj Exotica, Leela hotel and Park Hyatt will be closed,” he said.
To another question, the district Collector said the district administration had a meeting with the heads of schools from South Goa on Wednesday, adding that the school exams scheduled during the next few days will continue in the district. SP Shekhar Prabhudesai said the main roads leading to the hotels like Taj Exotica, Leela and Park Hyatt will be closed for general public only during the movement of the VVIP convoy. Moreover, he said that no parking will be allowed on the entire road from Dabolim airport to Margao, Colva, Benaulim and further down to Cavelossim, warning that vehicles parked on the road will be towed away by the traffic machinery.
Addressing the media to allay misconceptions in certain quarters that all shops and business establishments will be shut down in Salcete during the two-day BRICS summit, SP Prabhudesai said that no such advisory has been issued by the authorities till date. Even on the traffic front, the district police chief said that traffic movement of on the roads leading to the summit venue will be closed only at the time of the passing of the convoy of official vehicles.
He said the general public roads from Dabolim airport/INS Hansa to Leela hotel, Mobor; from Cansaulim-Verna bypass to Hotel Prk Bhyatt, Arossim; from junction near shop & save super market to hotel Raj Exotica, Benaulim; from main gate of hotel Leela, Mobor to the last stop at Mobor via Italia restaurant and from the main gate of Hotel Leela towards Mobor beach rad.
SP Prabhudesai said the general public should prefer road such as Queeny Nagar junction to Cansaulim market, Dolio service station, Mungul to Voltar Benauli via Khareband, Orlim four road junction to Chinchinim junction (internal village road) and from Cavelossim bridge to Chinchinim via Assolna, Orllim.
Categorically ruling the possibility of closure of the public roads and shops and business establishmnets during the summit days, he said that no such advisory has been issued by the district authorities till date.
Superintendent of police, Traffic Prabodh Shirwaikar has sought the cooperation of the general public by avoiding parking on the road from INS Hansa to Cavelossim. .
SP Shirwaikar said the entire road from Old market circle to Green House junction at Colva will be closed for vehicular movement. “Motorists should use alternate roads such as Benaulim, Khareband, Eastern bypass, Seraulim, Betalbatim-Majorda road for their onward journey. Similarly, Colva-Mobor road will be closed for vehicular movement from Green House junction to Hotel Leela road. The motorists should use alternate route, ie Sernabatim, Fatrade road and Cavelossim bridge, Orlim Bridge towards Cavelossim”, he added.
