Mahindra Jeeps, which are apparently self-driven rental vehicles, parked by the roadside near Hotel Palmarinha in Calangute. Captured by : Agnelo Pereira
MAPUSA
With hotels and guest-houses jostling for space in Calangute, finding room for vehicular parking has become a huge problem in the coastal village.
This forces many desi tourists who travel in their private cars and sometimes even locals to park their vehicles by the roadside or any available open space much to the detriment of the residents.
The problem becomes more severe during the weekends and key festivals and events when the roads along the coast are chock-a-block with vehicles.
Local residents have complained that several buses, tempo travellers and cars are parked by the roadside and in public places creating a nuisance to the locals and restricting smooth movement of traffic.
Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF) President Premanand Diukar informed that several hotels in the coastal village have no parking facility and this forces the tourists to park their vehicles by the roadside.
“There is this well-known hotel near the Jack Sequeira statue in the heart of Calangute where vehicles are seen parked by the roadside. These vehicles are used to ferry tourists who visit this hotel. As per law, no vehicles can be allowed to park within 100 meters of a hotel but the earlier panchayat even went to the extent of legalising the parking by displaying a parking board in the area,” Diukar said.
Similarly, the area along the ‘Holiday Street’ at Gauravaddo, Calangute also witnesses unauthorised parking inconveniencing local residents.
“This unauthorised parking of vehicles creates a lot of problems for residents living in the area. Sometimes the vehicles are parked right in front of our gates blocking our access. The panchayat should take the initiative and tow away these vehicles,” said Dr Lloyd, who resides in the area.
Incidentally, several locals who are involved in tourist taxi and private rent-a-cab or rent-a-bike businesses in the coastal village also land up parking their vehicles by the roadside.
Besides, some of the vehicles have been parked in open spaces for the last several years and have rusted at the spot.
Acknowledging the problem, Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira assured to take swift action in the matter.
“The panchayat will write to the Road Transport Office (RTO) about such vehicles and ask the authorities to cancel their permits,” Sequeira said. He also said the panchayat will soon purchase a towing vehicle and lift all the condemned vehicles which are parked by the roadside for the last many years.
This forces many desi tourists who travel in their private cars and sometimes even locals to park their vehicles by the roadside or any available open space much to the detriment of the residents.
The problem becomes more severe during the weekends and key festivals and events when the roads along the coast are chock-a-block with vehicles.
Local residents have complained that several buses, tempo travellers and cars are parked by the roadside and in public places creating a nuisance to the locals and restricting smooth movement of traffic.
Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF) President Premanand Diukar informed that several hotels in the coastal village have no parking facility and this forces the tourists to park their vehicles by the roadside.
“There is this well-known hotel near the Jack Sequeira statue in the heart of Calangute where vehicles are seen parked by the roadside. These vehicles are used to ferry tourists who visit this hotel. As per law, no vehicles can be allowed to park within 100 meters of a hotel but the earlier panchayat even went to the extent of legalising the parking by displaying a parking board in the area,” Diukar said.
Similarly, the area along the ‘Holiday Street’ at Gauravaddo, Calangute also witnesses unauthorised parking inconveniencing local residents.
“This unauthorised parking of vehicles creates a lot of problems for residents living in the area. Sometimes the vehicles are parked right in front of our gates blocking our access. The panchayat should take the initiative and tow away these vehicles,” said Dr Lloyd, who resides in the area.
Incidentally, several locals who are involved in tourist taxi and private rent-a-cab or rent-a-bike businesses in the coastal village also land up parking their vehicles by the roadside.
Besides, some of the vehicles have been parked in open spaces for the last several years and have rusted at the spot.
Acknowledging the problem, Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira assured to take swift action in the matter.
“The panchayat will write to the Road Transport Office (RTO) about such vehicles and ask the authorities to cancel their permits,” Sequeira said. He also said the panchayat will soon purchase a towing vehicle and lift all the condemned vehicles which are parked by the roadside for the last many years.
