The plan to decongest and regulate traffic in parts of the city included a plan for making streets one way, demarcating pedestrian only areas and no parking zones.
The CCP had resolved that the corporation will begin pay parking initially in four areas – pedestrian walk around and opposite National Theatre, pay parking near Vishal Mega Mart and Junta House, pay parking around the Municipal Market and Inox as well as in front of Café Coffee Day. The CCP was also considering designating the area around 31st January road as no parking zone.
Former mayor Yatin Parikh from the ruling panel, backed by former deputy mayor Rudresh Chodankar and former mayors from the opposition panel Vaidehi Naik and Tony Rodrigues had objected to the plan and raised various hurdles in its implementation. They insisted that the plan be taken up on a trial basis and in a phased manner.
In the wake of the objections and discussions, mostly repeated arguments, the corporation agreed to the first phase of implementation for certain areas on a trial period. Till date it has not happened.
“Finalisation of areas is still on. It will take some time. I could not go forward because of the code of conduct. I will start work on it now,” CCP commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues recently told media, though authorities in affiliated departments say that pay parking can be implemented in a day if there is political will.
In August last year CCP had said that pay parking would be implemented at 18 places in the capital city, including the busy 18th June road and Church square.
The North Goa Collector through a notification issued on August 8 had announced pay parking at 18 places, to be effective from September 18. Panjim Mayor Surendra Furtado had said that the tendering process for pay parking would be completed and by September 15 it would be implemented. Till date the tendering process has not started.
The 18 places for pay parking included 18th June road, Church square, Dr R S road, T B Cunha road, Menezes Braganza road, Dr Govind Vaidhya road, Bhosle Square, Swami Vivekanand road, A B road and other small lanes.
