TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Without making any parking provisions or attempts to get rid of idle parking, Goa Traffic police have started using megaphones to get rid of double parking in the city.
Although this is not a part of the traffic rule book, officials say it is an attempt to discourage double parking of four-wheelers which creates serious bottle necks and could cause accidents. The usual practice as per the law is to clamp such vehicles and stick challans on the front windshields.
A few car drivers have escaped challans for parking violation even as the traffic department said it has ensured that traffic violator do not misuse the system. “It is not required but some officers in good faith have turned to megaphones warning drivers to vacate the space. This doesn’t mean that traffic violators can get away… traffic police are issuing challans to people who breach traffic rules,” SP (Traffic) Arvind Gawas told Herald.
The department however concedes that lack of parking space has resulted in parking chaos but at the same time, many vehicle users avoid pay parking in a bid to save money.
Recently, re-elected Mayor Surendra Furtado has restated his resolve to introduce pay parking. He said the proposal had been cleared by the chief minister and he had been asked to initiate it after the election code of conduct is withdrawn.
In Panjim, three stretches of road at Church square, Dr Pandurang Pissurlekar road and portions of 18 June road will become pay parking zones.
“There are many who blatantly park their vehicles on the wrong side of the road, ignoring that it causes inconvenience to other vehicle users. Many a time there vehicles are queued up…our personnel announce the traffic violated-vehicle number on the megaphone asking to remove it,” Traffic cell inspector Dharmesh Angle said.
The department believes that in future the drivers desist from the traffic nuisance and it will also be a lesson to others not to break the law. The traffic police have used the megaphones in congested areas of Margao, Vasco, Ponda and other busy roads to desist drivers from double parking.
