Illegal shop extensions creates chaos along Housing Board road
MAPUSA
Traffic chaos and consequent rise in accidents along the Housing Board road in Mapusa has caused much heartburn among the locals who reside at Ganeshpuri, Mapusa.
Traffic along the road leading to Ganeshpuri and beyond has increased manifold in the last couple of years. Besides local residents, a lot of motorists moving towards Siolim prefer the Housing Board road as it offers a shortcut to commuters.
With the increase in vehicular traffic, there is a lot of pressure on the road.
What has made matters worse is that some shops along the road have carried out illegal extensions and encroached on road widening area.
Many people travelling in their four-wheelers or two-wheelers park their vehicles by the roadside and enter these shops, thereby narrowing the road further.
Local councillor, Sanjay Mishal urged the Mapusa Municipal Council to demolish all the illegal structures along the road.
“All the illegal extensions by the shops should be demolished promptly. The shop owners have constructed the shades and occupied the road widening area. Those who patronize these shops leave their vehicles by the roadside, thereby adding to the chaos on the already busy road,” Mishal said.
The Goan investigations reveal that Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has not renewed trade licence of these shop owners for the last four years.
There are almost 20 shops along the stretch.
“Since the MMC is not getting any revenue from these shops it’s better to demolish the extensions and renew their licences,” Mishal added.
The land which belongs to Mapusa Comunidade was sold to the owners some years back.
“We had allotted an area of 3x3 sq mts to each of the owners in the area,” said Ryan Braganza, the attorney of Mapusa Comunidade. “We have no objection if the council chooses to demolish any extension the owners have carried out to their units,” he added.
Assuring to look into the matter, MMC Chairperson Sandeep Falari said the council can issue licence to shops having an area of 3x3 sq mtr as per comunidade`s specification.
