the goan I network
PANAJI
In a bid to ease the traffic chaos in the capital city, the State administration on Friday notified that parking vehicles on some key roads will henceforth cost the vehicle users.
As per the notification issued by North Goa Collector, the parking charges for four-wheelers will be Rs 20 for the first four hours and Rs 10 for every extra hour and will be in force from 9 am to 9 pm, except on Sundays.
Two-wheelers will be exempted from paying to park and so will all government vehicles and one car each of residents in buildings.
Some of the roads notified for pay-parking include 18th June road, Rua Cunha Rivera, all along the municipal garden, Atmaram Borkar Road, Joao Crasto Road and Jack Sequeira Road from Miramar Circle up to the first gate of Sharada Mandir School and on either sides of the road.
The pay-parking fee collection is likely to begin in October if the further process is completed smoothly and the CCP has to construct and erect the necessary signboards besides making other necessary arrangements.
A tender process to select the contractor who will collect the fees is also likely to take time.
Meanwhile, the Corporation of the City of Panaji wants the pay-parking rates notified by the North Goa Collector on Friday to be increased.
“We want to decongest the city. For that, we want to promote use of two-wheelers rather than four-wheelers. That is why we want Rs 20 fee for pay parking for first one hour and Rs 10 for subsequent additional hours,” CCP Mayor Uday Madkaikar said on Friday after issuance of the notification.
Apart from the rates, the CCP also wants timing of pay parking in some areas to be increased during late
nights too.
The areas near casinos and Down The Road pub are congested during the night time, so we want pay parking should be implemented during the late hours,” the
Mayor said.
We will write to the Collector and get the changes done in the notification, added
the Mayor. The CCP will reserve some places for private taxi operators for parking. Around 10 such places in the city have been identified where around 120 taxis can be parked
Besides these planned slots for taxis, there are slots already reserved for motorcycle and rickshaws in the city, the Mayor informed
Madkaikar informed that this decision was taken after a meeting of Panaji MLA Atanasio Monserrate with the taxi owners which was held on Wednesday
Meanwhile, the Mayor informed that road near Panaji market to Dada Vaidya hospital has been notified temporarily as one-way to manage heavy traffic during Ganesh Chaturthi and it can been made a permanent arrangement if it helps in smooth traffic management
The Mayor also informed that around 95 per cent potholes in the city are filled with concrete mixture and remaining work will be completed within two days
When asked about the traffic congestion due to on-going Astami fair, the Mayor justified saying that it is a tradition to set up fair at the same spot and there is no alternate slot available with CCP for such events
“This is just a problem for some days and CCP has given permission to set up stalls with 1 meter setback to allow people to walk,” the Mayor said
He informed there are around 193 stalls on the footpath. Out of these 62 stalls are of furniture and 25 stalls are of traditional artisans
