Margao civic body under scrutiny for inaction as public spaces face growing encroachment

Fast food gaddas, chairs, tables on Margao Municipal parking lot opposite the Margao KTC bus stand. Fast food gaddas doing brisk business on the Old Margao Bus Stand.

MARGAO
Parking lots, bus stands, public squares, and footpaths in the commercial capital all seem to have come under public scanner. Reason: Fast food business thrives on the bus stands and parking lots, while migrant hawkers swarm around the city footpaths with readymade garments and goods, etc right under the watchful eyes of the Margao Municipal Council.

Citizens may wonder how come fast food gaddas have their way at the MMC parking lot opposite the Margao KTC Bus Stand and the Margao Old Bus Stand. While the gaddas per se may have the Municipal licences to conduct the business, a host of questions remains unanswered – whether the fast food gadda owners can occupy the public space as per their whims and fancies; whether the MMC licence conditions mandate the owners to tow their gaddas to their place of residence after business hours, but they have become a permanent feature at the Old Bus Stand and in front of the KTC Bus Stand, throwing up a simple question what has stopped the Margao Municipality to crack a whip and force the owners to tow carts back home after business hours.

Gaddas take over parking lot at KTC Bus Stand

One would come across during a visit or a ride down the KTC Bus Stand in the morning that a couple of gaddas parked on the spacious Margao Municipal parking lot. A look at the gaddas would reveal that they have not moved from the place for months given their tyres are found punctured.

Come evening, and the parking lot plays host to a food festival right under the eyes of the Margao Municipal authorities and the Powers that be. While the owners have maintained the size of the gaddas as per the MMC specification, dozens of chairs, besides tables invade the parking lot, throwing up a simple question – can this blatant encroachment take place without the blessings of the Powers that be and the civic authorities.

Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai had in the recent past called for cracking a whip against gaddas, besides gaddas conducting business in violation of business timings. Has the MLA’s fiat found favour with the MMC and police authorities or is it business as usual at the parking lot in front of the KTC bus stand.

Council fails to enforce after-hours rules for gaddas

Credit goes to the Margao Municipal Council for instilling discipline at the Margao Old Bus Stand, which plays host to fast food gaddas. The civic body has got the gaddas operate from within an area, restricting the business operation within a marked zone.

The MMC, however, seemed to have turned a blind eye to the presence of the carts on the bus stand after business hours. When the MMC had insisted on a zone for the gaddas to operate, many believed the measure would ensure that the Old Bus Stand may come in handy for parents to park vehicles during peak school hours, but in vain.

Why the MMC has developed cold feet by enforcing the licence condition to the owners to tow their carts back to their residence after business hours remains a mystery.

Illegal vending thrives on footpath at comunidade square

It is business as usual on the footpath at the Margao comunidade square with migrant hawkers swarming around the area, right under the nose of the Margao Municipal authorities. That the business activity on the footpath leaves pedestrians with no option than to walk on the road has not spurred neither the MMC officials nor the police to step in to crack a whip. Take note, the comunidade square is located just adjacent to the Marago Municipal building. Sadly, no action is forthcoming from the civic body against the unauthorised and illegal business activity on the footpath of the comunidade square.

Sunday Bazaar reigns supreme along Margao station road

MARGAO: Margao’s Sunday Bazaar popularly in city and police circles as “Chor Bazaar” reigns supreme along the Margao railway station road again.

In fact, Madgavkars have begun to wonder who’s behind the thriving Sunday Bazaar along the station road. For, vendors and hawkers have the audacity to display their garments and other goods right along the roadside.

Leave alone any action by the Margao Municipal 

Council and the Margao police, the vendors and hawkers literally have a field day as they go about their business activity every Sunday.

In the recent past, the Margao police used to crack a whip against the Chor Bazaar hoping to recover stolen items in theft cases. Information revealed that the men-in-uniform seemed to have not initiated action against the activity. In fact, police maintain that action against illegal vending or hawking falls in the domain of the local civic body.