the goan I network
MARGAO
Two important issues “ introduction of pay-parking on selected sites and repairs and maintenance of the defunct CCTV surveillance cameras “ have been hanging fire for months, if not years, but there’s no urgency displayed by the Margao civic body to address the problems.
While the statutory Municipal Standing Committee headed by Chairperson Babita Angle Prabhudesai moved with alacrity to give approval for TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai’s proposal to install traffic signals at four traffic junctions in and around Fatorda constituency, Traffic department’s proposal to introduce pay-parking on around 11 roads in the heart of the town is gathering dust in the record books of the civic body. The proposal, which was mooted by the Margao traffic cell, during the previous term when Gonzaco Rebello was the Chairperson, has not come before any of the Council meetings for deliberation and discussion for reasons best known to the Chairperson as well as Chief Officer Y B Tawde.
The Traffic department’s proposal to introduce pay-parking on the selective routes was to regulate haphazard parking with the objective of accommodating around 200 cars.
That’s not all. Though the CCTV surveillance cameras have been lying defunct since the last several months, neither the elected Council nor the Chief Officer has taken any initiative to activate the cameras installed under the MPLAD scheme at a cost of lakhs of rupees. In fact, every time, the media seeks the comments of the Chief Officer, Tawde replies saying that he would place the matter before the Council for an appropriate decision.
When The Goan called up MMC Chairperson to shed light on the MMC’s lukewarm response to the traffic issues relating to pay-parking and repairs of the defunct CCTV surveillance cameras, Babita was clear in her stand that the Municipality cannot afford to repair and maintain the cameras. In fact, she suggested that since the CCTV surveillance cameras are being used by the Traffic department to regulate vehicular traffic in the city, the responsibility lies on the police department to look after the upkeep and maintenance of the CCTV cameras. “The civic body is facing financial constraints and it would not be possible for the civic body to look after the maintenance of the cameras,” she said.
As far as the pay-parking proposal is concerned, Babita made it clear that the civic body is not in favour of introducing pay-parking proposal before adding an extra inch of parking space in the city. “Unless there’s an added inch of parking space in the city, the Municipality has reservations on introducing pay-parking in the city,” she added.
Traffic officials, however, in private say that civic body should take an early call on the CCTV surveillance cameras as well as pay-parking to ease the burning traffic situation in the commercial capital. “The Municipality should at least resolve the issue of CCTV surveillance cameras on urgent priority. The pay-parking proposal can be taken up at a later stage,” the official added.
