Traffic plan for St Francis Xavier novenas and feast
the goan network
PANAJI
The feast of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa will be celebrated on December 3, and novenas will be held from November 24 to December 3. As the feast and novenas attract a large number of devotees, the authorities have put in place traffic arrangements.
There will be special buses to ferry passengers from Panaji to Old Goa via Ribandar. These buses will proceed via Ribandar and on reaching Dempo Engineering will take left turn to enter the Bhakia property for parking there. Two and four wheelers will also park at Bhakia property. Vehicles with VIP car pass can come up to the entry road and park in VIP parking lot. Vehicles with disabled persons can come up to Old Goa Church junction and park in the open space opposite Sulabh Shauchalaya.
Panaji to Ponda route buses will will be diverted at KTC Circle to proceed via Kadamba bypass (NH-4A). Two and four wheelers on reaching Kamat gas station junction will take left towards Santa Monica Nunnery and at St Augustine Tower junction take left and at Habitat junction take right and at Dempo Engineering will park at Bhakia property.
All heavy and medium vehicles will go via Kadamba bypass NH-4A. The new road connecting Kadamba bypass to Santan Church will be one-way and no medium and heavy vehicles will be allowed from both sides. On Saturday, Sunday and feast day, heavy and medium goods vehicles will be diverted at Karaswada junction and at Banastarim junction to proceed via Amona bridge.
: The road from Pilar to Old Goa will be one-way. All vehicles shall exit via NH-4A at Merces or light vehicles can exit via new road to Santan Church. Four wheelers from South Goa can come up to Ella Farm gate and park in Ella Farm field, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Service open space. Two wheelers can park in the property prior to Neura junction and in the parking lots behind the Bom Jesus Basilica. Buses from South Goa via Neura will take left at Ella Farm main gate and park at Kunkolkar School ground and will exit on NH-4A for onward journey.
Two and four wheelers from Ponda on reaching Pinto Garage will take left turn and park behind Pinto Garage. For return journey, these vehicles will take the same route to go towards Ponda. Traffic from Ponda to Panaji, on reaching Dargah junction at Old Goa will take Kadamba by-pass. Ponda to Panaji route buses will be diverted at Dargah junction to proceed via Kadamba bypass (NH-4A). Heavy vehicles from Ponda will be diverted at Banastarim junction via Amona bridge to join NH-17 at Karaswada. The road from Old Goa Police Station to Church junction via MLA Madkaikar house will be one-way.
Vehicles coming from Divar to Old Goa will proceed via Viceroy’s Arch and park in St Cajetan Church courtyard. Other vehicles will proceed through Viceroy’s Arch and Arch of Conception to go towards Ponda and Panaji. Vehicles from Ponda wanting to proceed to Divar will take right turn near Old Goa petrol pump to come to Gaundalim road and take left near Ramesh Naik house, to proceed to Divar jetty. The vehicles from Gaundalim proceeding to Divar will take right near Ramesh Naik house to proceed to Divar jetty. The vehicles coming from Panaji via Ribandar to go to Divar will take left turn at Old Goa Church junction, take route towards St Catherine Chapel and thereafter take left turn on the new by-lane to go to Divar jetty. The lane connecting Gaundalim road to Arch of Conception will be No Entry. The road from Old Goa Church junction towards Divar ferry via St Catherine Chapel will be One-Way. No heavy and medium vehicles will be allowed to cross Divar ferry. All such vehicles can use Sao Pedro ferry to enter and exit Divar.
: Two and four-wheelers from Panaji via Ribandar, will be parked at Bhakia property. Vehicles coming from Panaji via new Kadamba bypass (NH-4A), will take left at St Augustine Tower junction and to proceed for parking at Bhakia Property. Two and four-wheelers coming from South Goa will be parked at Ela Farm, Animal Husbandry premises and at open space on either side of highway near Neura junction. Two wheelers can also park in private property prior to Neura junction. Two and four-wheelers from Ponda side can park at open ground near Pinto garage. Two-wheelers can park at two open plots opposite MLA Madkaikar’s residence. Two and four-wheelers from Divar ferry can park in the courtyard of St Cajetan Church.
Vehicles with parking passes issued by Traffic Police can park in the open space near Old Goa main junction and near Sulabh Souchalaya and in the courtyard of VP Old Goa. Priests' vehicles in the compound behind Basilica of Bom Jesus. Church volunteers in the asphalted parking area behind Sulabh Souchalaya.
: Panaji-Old Goa buses via Ribandar at Bhakia Property. Panaji-Old Goa buses via Kadamba road, along new 4-lane road behind MLA Madkaikar House. South Goa-Old Goa buses at Kunkalkar School ground. Ponda-Old Goa buses near Hubbard Fann. Buses of devotees and tourists, behind MLA Madkaikar’s house.
: The stretch of road between Old Goa Church junction to Gandhi Circle will be closed for all types of vehicles except police, ambulance and fire brigade. The ring round road connecting Old Goa Church junction to St Catherine Chapel to Arch of Conception to petrol pump to Old Goa Police Station to MLA Madkaikar house to Old Goa Church junction will be one-way.
