MMC turns down Traffic dept’s proposal to reintroduce pay-parking on city roads

The Council has also rejected a proposal received from the Fisheries department to set up mini retail fish markets in the commercial capital, with City Fathers demanding to know why the city needs more markets when the commercial capital plays host to a spacious fish market run by the SGPDA.

When the Traffic department’s pay-parking proposal was placed before the Council meeting chaired by Chairperson Pooja Naik, councillors cutting across party lines opposed the proposal, saying the proposal does not in any way add to the city’s parking space.

Former Chairperson Arthur D’Silva, however, made a fervent plea to the Council to set in motion the construction of the multi-level parking project proposed five years during his tenure. He lamented that the parking project has not seen the light of day despite the payment of fees to the authorities by the civic body during his stint as Chairperson in 2015.

On the question of fish market proposal by the Fisheries department, the City Fathers said the city does not need more fish markets when the SGPDA is running a mega retail market.

During discussions on a host of issues, Margao Municipal Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes made an open submission that some of the files are sent directly to him for his signature, while others take the section route. He also said that the administration cannot refer the files to the Municipal retainer for opinion without first presenting the file to the Chief Officer. 

“I will ensure that the administration does not adopt a shortcut route by referring files to the Municipal retainer for opinion,” he said.