PANAJI:
The plans of the Corporation of the City of Panaji to introduce pay-parking to stem the chaotic traffic congestion at peak hours along two of the city's streets - Atmaram Borkar Road and 18th June Road - could get delayed for a while as the civic body is yet to draw up a concrete plan of action.
Mayor Uday Madkaikar said it is delayed as they are awaiting a fresh notification from the North Goa Collector, R Menaka, approving the new parking rates which the Corporation has proposed.
"The only reason for the delay as of now are the revised rates. The old rates were Rs 20 for four hours and Rs 10 for every additional hour. But now we have written to the Collector to notify a new rate of Rs 20 for an hour and Rs 15 for every additional hour,” Madkaikar said.
Menaka around a fortnight ago had already issued the notification designating the two streets which cut through the city from east to west as streets where parking of vehicles will have to be paid for.
She however insisted that to begin implementing the pay-parking scheme, the CCP will have to first raise an awareness campaign so the public is informed.
The Collector said that the Corporation will also have to ensure proper signages are erected at vantage points on the two streets. Both are one-way streets and traffic is only permitted in a single direction.
The pay-parking scheme was announced with much bravado by Madkaikar around a fortnight ago and the Corporation is hoping it will act as a panacea to the capital's traffic congestion caused by callous parking by vehicle owners.
Menaka claimed the proposal came from the CCP and the State government accepted it.
"What we have suggested to the CCP is that, there has to be widespread awareness and publicity before pay parking scheme is actually implemented,” the Collector said.
Elaborating on the issue, Menaka said, the scheme must be publicized.
This is a new pay parking scheme, and the public should be prepared. Without signboards and the fee structure put in place, the CCP will not be able to implement it.
Meanwhile, Madkaikar said the task of implementing the pay-parking scheme will be outsourced to the highest bidder through a tender process.
He claimed by the end of October this year, the CCP should be in a position to begin implementation in the city.
Madkaikar also said that the Traffic Cell of the Goa police will also partner with the CCP to implement the scheme.
