MARGAO
Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai has a task cut out as he officially steps into Margao to hold a Janata Darbar at the Margao Municipal Council on Monday to meet the general public and address their grievances.
On the eve of the TCP Minister's visit, questions are raised whether he has any solution for the host of issues plaguing the commercial capital, right from parking to garbage collection, traffic regulation, the flyover craving for attention, the pathetic condition of the footbridges over the railway tracks, etc.
Coincidentally, TCP Minister is officially visiting the Margao Municipal Council for the first time and his visit comes against the backdrop of the major revamp of the notorious Margao Municipal Council technical section with mass transfers of the Municipal engineers.
Since the formation of the coalition government under the leadership of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in March last, the TCP Minister had restricted himself to Fatorda, initiating a host of projects in the constituency, while literally turning a blind eye to Margao for reasons best known to him.
While the TCP Minister has initiated parking projects at the SGPDA ground and the land acquired by the MMC opposite the KTC, vehicular parking still remains a burning issue in neighbouring Margao. The parking project initiated by the Margao Municipal Council is stuck up in the GST tangle, while the fate of the parking projects mooted at the pick up stand and the old bus stand remains unknown till date.
The flyover is a perfect example of the government's apathy towards Margao. While motorists have been complaining about the pathetic condition of the flyover, the ground reality remains unchanged. The two footbridges over the railway tracks at Pedda-Khareband and the Calconda-old station footbridge has been craving for attention for the past many months, but in vain.
Traffic is still the major burning issue facing Margao city. While the TCP Minister had moved with alacrity to carve out a separate police station for Fatorda, the Margao traffic cell is grossly understaffed and unable to meet the growing requirements of regulating the city traffic.
Commenting on his decision to hold a Janata Darbar at Margao Municipal Council, the TCP Minister has said that he has always been in touch with his constituents in order to understand the issues faced by the people with regards to availing various facilities available at the MMC.
"We stand by our commitment of Goem, Goemkar and Goemkarponn, and being part of the ruling coalition government, I intend to take the government to the people to solve their grievances,"
said Sardesai.
