THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
The Traffic Department has released an advisory for the Carnival Float Parade in Panaji, scheduled to take place on March 1.
The floats will assemble on Ribandar Causeway, starting from Santa Monica Jetty, and proceed via D B B Marg before concluding at Kala Academy.
The Traffic Department has said that to ensure smooth traffic movement during the event, several diversions and restrictions have been put in place.
The Ribandar Causeway road from Divja Circle to the Ribandar-Merces bypass junction will be closed to general traffic from 10 pm on February 28 till all floats cross Divja Circle.
From 2 pm on March 1, floats will be allowed to move from Divja Circle, below Mandovi Bridge near Santa Monica Jetty to the starting point at Old Secretariat via D B B Marg (river-side lane).
After the parade, floats will be parked at the Football Ground on D B B Marg till further notice.
The department stated that no floats will be allowed from KTC Circle towards Divja Circle, and they will instead be diverted via Merces Circle and the bypass road to Ribandar.
Incoming traffic to Panaji city will follow the normal route via New Patto Bridge and Divja Circle with diversions at Dayanand Bandodkar Statue, allowing movement via Church Square/Cross Road Junction. Vehicles from Bambolim can enter via Mala Bridge – Four Pillar Junction – Bhatlem.
During the float parade, city buses will not be allowed on D B B Marg, and traffic from Ribandar towards Panaji will be diverted via Merces underpass and NH-4A.
For outgoing traffic, vehicles from Miramar will be diverted at Campal Ganesh/Kala Academy, proceeding via Fire Brigade Junction – St. Inez Junction – Caculo Island – 18th June Road – Church Square – Cortin, and exiting via Old Patto Bridge or Mala Bridge.
Traffic from Rua-de-Ourem will be redirected at Hotel Sona to Kaju Darbar. Heavy and commercial vehicles will not be allowed to enter Panaji from 7 am to 9 pm while tourist buses from Dona Paula will not be allowed beyond Miramar Circle after 2 pm.
Traffic from Panaji towards Ribandar will be rerouted from Divja Circle via KTC Circle – Merces Circle – Bypass Road – Ribandar-Merces Road.
Parking has been designated at EDC Plaza, MLCP and near KTC Bus Stand for vehicles from North Goa, while vehicles from South Goa are advised to park at Campal Parade Ground via GMC – Goa University – NIO Circle – Miramar.
No parking zones will be enforced on Jose Falcao Road, Joao Castro Road, Match Corner to Casa International (M G Road), Caculo Island to St Inez Junction and Church Square to Cortin Foot Bridge.
Motorists traveling to St Inez, Taleigao, Miramar or Dona Paula from KTC or exiting from Miramar/Taleigao are advised to take the Mala-Bhatlem or Goa University road.
SP Traffic Prabodh Shirvoikar said these traffic arrangements will remain in force till the float parade concludes and urged the public to plan their travel accordingly and cooperate with the Traffic Police to ensure the smooth conduct of the event.
