Team Herald
MARGAO: December brings absolute chaos to the residents of Margao. Life becomes a nightmare due to haphazard parking, double parking, vehicles coming from no entry zones and total absence of traffic police at crucial junctions leads to the chaos.
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On Monday traffic congestion was witnessed in Margao.
With increasing vehicular traffic, moving in Margao has become a nightmare. Parking on one side of the road and blocking one lane; parking on footpaths, using setback as parking, using underground parking for godowns, blocking one side of road and absence of traffic police to direct the traffic are some of the reasons for traffic congestion in the commercial capital.
Former Margao Municipal Council chairperson Savio Coutinho, who has been witness to the traffic snarls in the town for decades, says that people go round and round the municipal garden since there is no dedicated parking slot. “We have been trying to have a multi-level parking for decades, because it is being sabotaged. Recently they (Margao municipal Council) were talking about hydraulic parking. Everyone knows that this is not feasible. The ring road plan which was proposed from 1985 to 1995 was intended to link all internal roads right from railway station, Aquem, Rawanfond to Comba so that traffic is decongested.”
Dinesh Kakodkar, a Margao resident disclosed, “In Margao the traffic congestion takes place because there is no proper place for parking. Secondly, everyone tries to drive to the town with their four-wheeler and then search for a parking space. There is simply no place for parking even if one comes for marketing. There are big buildings coming up in Margao, but they are using the underground parking to put up shops. They don’t show parking space.”
Gopal Naik, president of New Market Traders Association, Margao said, “There is no place for parking, so people park anyhow and anywhere. If a parking place is developed, half of our issues will be solved. Now, Margao opens at 4 am with all migrant vendors. They come and occupy all the parking spaces. Migrant vendors even sit on both sides of the Station Road, blocking the easy movement of traffic. For Christmas, the entire stretch till Bank of Baroda was packed with vendors. I have already submitted a letter to the South SP, to the Police Inspector, Margao Traffic Cell, etc.”
Matin Carol, another resident of Margao says that supermarkets and malls do not have parking space and they convert their basement parking into godowns.
“The setback is used as a parking lot. Setback is made for road expansion, it is not meant for parking. See the Davorlim-Arlem highway, supermarkets have been opened, but they have not provided space for parking. Parking space has been converted into godowns,” he complained.
