PANJIM: After Carnival, the local authorities have changed the traditional parade route for the annual Panjim Shigmotsav, in a bid to decongest the city.
The Shigmotsav float parade in the Capital, which will be held on March 10, and will commence from Goa Science Centre, Miramar and culminate at the Harley Davidson showroom, Caranzalem. Before the commencement of the parade, the floats will line up on the Dr Jack Sequeira Road from Miramar Circle to Science Centre.
Addressing a joint press conference with the Panjim Shigmotsav Samiti president Shrinivas Dempo, DySP (traffic) Dharmesh Angle said vehicular traffic will be barred on the parade route from 2pm till the procession is over.
He said no traffic will be allowed on the Dr Jack Sequeira road from the internal lanes from Caranzalem. The traffic plan states that traffic from Dona Paula coming towards Panjim will be diverted at Aivao junction via the internal Caranzalem road to come till Adarsh Circle and proceed to Panjim via Miramar/St Inez.
“Traffic from Panjim proceeding towards Dona Paula will be diverted from Miramar Circle towards Tonca – Adarsh Circle – Santo Minguel High School, Taleigao – Taleigao Church to come up to Oitem junction and proceed further via Goa University road. Only residents of Caranzalem and route buses plying on Panjim-Dona Paula route will be allowed to proceed via Adarsh Circle towards Aivao junction,” the plan elaborates.
The Traffic Department has also designated parking and no parking zones. While VIP parking will be allowed on the road from Adarsh Circle to Science Centre, vehicles coming from North Goa will be parked at SAG Ground, Campal. Similarly, vehicles coming from South Goa are advised to take road via GMC-Goa University-NIO Circle-Miramar and to park at Tourism Department’s parking lot near Green Rosary School, Dona Paula or at NIWS ground Caranzalem. The EDC complex at Patto is another parking space designated during the parade hours.
Whereas, NIO circle to Harley Davidson Showroom, Aivao Junction to Adarsh Circle (internal), Miramar Circle to Adarsh Circle via Tonca and D B B Marg roads are marked as no parking zones. DySP Angle warned that any vehicle found parking on the diversion route will be towed away and parked on the Taleigao bypass road opposite Vasant Vihar.
Meanwhile, Dempo informed that around 40 floats are expected to participate in the parade this year.
