Govt mulls converting Mapusa govt complex open space into pay parking
************
MAPUSA
Good days are ahead for the public, who often face traffic chaos at the government complex in Mapusa.
The government is contemplating to convert the open space around the government complex into pay parking and may put the plan into action sooner than expected.
Additional Collector Sanjiv Gadkar informed that he was working on a plan to make people pay for parking within the complex.
“From the time I have taken charge, I have noticed two things in the government complex. The perennial chaos created by vehicles around the complex due to irregular parking and secondly, the shabbily maintained building precincts,” Gadkar said.
As a first step, he has sought data of the number of vehicles that enter inside the complex from the traffic police.
For the moment, a traffic police has also been stationed inside the complex to regulate the vehicles entering the complex.
The area behind the complex building has been cleared and two-wheelers are now allowed to park behind, restoring much needed discipline in the area.
Besides those people who visit the complex for various government-related works, there are others who come with their vehicles to shop in Bardez Bazaar that is housed in the complex.
“The vehicles that bring goods to Bardez Bazaar add to the chaos in the area. The Bardez Bazaar officials must be given certain timing to bring their vehicles in and off load their goods, may be before 9 am or after 6 pm,” said Jim Benaum, a businessman from Angod, Mapusa.
He gave thumbs up to the pay parking plan and expects discipline in the area after implementation of the plan.
Kishore Raut, another resident of Mapusa, also felt that pay parking would bring about a proper parking system at the government complex.
“Many people enter into the complex and park their vehicles because the space is available for free. Once pay parking is introduced, chaos will definitely stop and the area will be better organized,” Raut said.
He further advised the Mapusa Municipal Council to convert more areas in the town into pay parking to reduce congestion on roads.
The additional collector has also taken measures to maintain cleanliness in the building and as a first step has sent letters to all department heads in the complex.
“I was quite appalled to see the condition of the building when I first stepped into this complex. The condition of the two staircases leading to the building is dirty and needs a fresh coat of paint. I have spoken to the collector and we are trying to restore some sanity to the building premises,” Gadkar said.
***************
BOXEarlier attempt for pay parking foiled
MAPUSA: A similar attempt to convert the open space around the Mapusa government complex into pay parking was cold shouldered by the government sometime back.
“Then deputy collector Mahesh Korjuvenkar had moved a plan to make the area in front of the government complex into pay parking in 2008. But the move never took off, as politics took precedence over aam aadmi’s concern,” said Mahesh Rane, an advocate based in Mapusa.
He said the plan, if implemented, would be an excellent move to restore order in an otherwise chaotic condition in the area.
According to Rane, the people who visit the fish market park their vehicles in the government complex, leaving little space for genuine people, who have work in the government department.
Secondly, he said that Bardez Bazaar has to be removed from the area as the property belongs to the government.
“Bardez Bazaar has got its own private place. They should be asked to move from the area and shift to its own place,” Rane said.
He said such good moves should always be supported by the aam aadmi.
