MARGAO
In fact, blame it on the inordinate delay in putting in place the parking lots in the open spaces dotting the city’s landscape, as a result almost every other major and internal road across the city have turned into double parking. Even the road leading to Hospicio hospital and further down to Pajfiond is not spared with double parking “ both two-wheeler and four-wheelers -- on both sides of the road being the order of the day. The problem is further compounded along the busy road by the unauthorized halts by buses and private cars, throwing traffic out of gear.
The BPS Club road is another case in point. Right from the Ana Fonte garden down to the electricity department office, the entire road plays host to double parking, triggering traffic chaos during peak hours. While residents of the nearby housing complex park their vehicles on one side, the other side of the road comes in handy for citizens visiting the BPS Club or the restaurant inside.
The situation is no different on a couple of roads around Comba, where double parking is becoming a norm, hampering smooth movement of vehicular traffic during peak school hours.
When The Goan contacted Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Prabodh Shirwaikar, to shed light on the worsening parking scenario across the commercial capital, he conceded that the situation is going from bad to worse. “The prevailing situation is indeed a cause of concern for the traffic managers as well as the authorities,” DySP Shirwaikar stated.
Incidentally, what’s significant to note is the disclosure by the Marao traffic cell, stating that plans to notify no-parking areas on busy roads are awaiting implementation for want of sign boards from the Margao Municipal Council. In fact, a senior traffic police officer told The Goan that two important city roads “ Old Market-Mungul and newly widened Collectorate Ambaji-Agali road -- were notified by the District Collector as no-parking a couple of months ago. Sadly, the notifications are still confined to the papers for want of sign boards from local authorities, including the Margao Municipal Council.
GOACAN Convenor Roland Martins said that Margao’s traffic and parking need to be addressed in a holistic manner by the authorities. “It is sad that even panels recommended by the government are still awaiting implementation by the local Margao civic body,” he said, adding that the problem can be put to rest by creating additional parking facilities and putting a system in place to regulate the increasing traffic.
Incidentally, while the issue is craving for attention, Madgavkars have only heard of tall promises from the powers that be, including the BJP-led government, locals MLAs, Digambar Kamat and Vijai Sardesai, besides MMC.
“Unlike other cities, Margao is blessed with three open spaces, old bus stand, pick up stand and old fish market, where parking lots can come up with ease. Sadly, we have only heard our rulers making tall promises on the parking lots, with none of the proposed multi-storied parking lots seeing light of the day
till date,” remarked activist Savio Dias.
