Ponda, the cultural capital of Goa and a popular tourist destination due to its temples, is presently facing a major parking problem, which often leads to traffic congestion. The problem is not only in the city, but also in Kavlem, Ramnathi, and Nagueshim.
In the last two decades, several buildings have sprung in the city, but they have no or little space for parking. While the locals aren’t against the rampant construction of commercial and residential buildings in the city, they have complained that no provision is being made for parking lots.
Due to lack of parking space, locals and visitors have to park their vehicles on the roadside, contributing to traffic jams and inconveniencing pedestrian, who have to walk in the middle of the road. To add to their woes, the traffic police fine them for parking on the roadside. The traffic department has created parking areas in front of some shops and buildings, but the problem persists.
Former Ponda municipal councillor Mahadeve Khanolkar said that parking is a daily problem in the city. He further said, “I had parked my car on the roadside one day, but a traffic official fined me. I said I would pay the fine, but he would also have to show me a parking space, to which he had no reply. The government should create parking spaces instead of issuing challans. There is no parking system in the market, and both sides of the road are used to park vehicles. There is a space in the market complex that could be used by for parking.
Meanwhile, Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar said that the number of two- and four-wheelers and heavy vehicles in Ponda is increasing every day. He stated that the problems of traffic congestion and parking were not only faced by four-wheelers, but also two-wheelers.
Mamledar blamed the Planning and Development Authority (PDA) for the mess and accused the government and Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) of not cooperating with him to implement a traffic management plan for Ponda.
He claimed that the PDA was not working as per the plans for city, and hence, buildings were being constructed on the roadside at the bus stand and market area.
He also claimed that builders included parking facilities on their plans while getting approval from the government and PMC, but once the permission was given, the builders changed their plans in connivance with PDA officials and converted the parking spaces into shops and other commercial businesses.
“If we want to develop the city in a well-planned and serious manner, the implementation of laws like in Singapore and Malaysia is necessary. The public should wish for such concepts. I hope that after the next Assembly election, the problems of the Ponda residents will be solved,” said Mamledar.
