MAPUSA
In a move aimed at easing traffic flow and ensuring smoother access to the Manohar International Airport, the Public Works Department (PWD) has declared the newly-constructed Mopa link road, connecting National Highway 66 (NH-66) to Mopa International Airport, a no-parking and no-halting zone.
The decision is aimed at preventing parking-related obstructions on the newly constructed six-lane link road.
The Executive Engineer of PWD (NH), Jude Carvalho made the official announcement, confirming that despite the recent completion of the road’s construction and its opening to traffic, parking and halting of vehicles on the link road are strictly prohibited.
“The Mopa link road from NH-66 junction to Mopa International Airport is declared as a no-parking, no-halting zone with immediate effect,” Carvalho stated in a notification published in local newspapers.
He emphasised that the road is an access-controlled corridor, designed to maintain an uninterrupted flow of vehicles and facilitate quicker, hassle-free travel to and from the airport.
The notification has also empowered the traffic police to issue fines and take stringent action against violators parking or halting along the route.
Sources at the Manohar International Airport told The Goan that many taxi operators were using the six-lane link road as an informal parking spot, waiting for passengers without paying the required parking fees.
By parking their vehicles on the link road, these operators sought to evade parking charges at the airport, often resulting in a haphazard and dangerous situation for other road users.
With the no-parking rule now in effect, these operators will be compelled to use designated parking areas at the airport or nearby facilities, ensuring that the link road remains clear for its intended purpose “ quick and efficient travel to and from the airport.
The Mopa link road is a vital infrastructure project inaugurated in July this year by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari.
Stretching 6.7 kms, this controlled access corridor provides a direct link between NH-66 and Manohar International Airport.
The road’s design prioritises fast and unobstructed movement, significantly reducing travel time and easing access to the airport for tourists, locals, and business travellers.
The declaration of the no-parking and no-halting zone is seen as a critical step toward maintaining the road’s efficiency and achieving its goal of improving airport connectivity.
