MARGAO: Due to the increase in commercial complexes and lack of space along the Eastern Bypass at Fatorda from Arlem Junction to Bolshe Circle, parking space is in short supply and therefore people have been parking their vehicles on the roads.

Since there are no footpaths or even road shoulders along the bypass, people are forced to risk their lives walking on the road in-between parked and on-coming cars. Interestingly, the RTO Office is also the cause of many trucks being parked on the road.

Herald Team spoke to the Traffic Police who stand opposite the Fatorda police station along the bypass to catch traffic violators, and asked them what they were doing to prevent cars from parking on the road. The traffic police said that people don’t listen since there is no “No Parking Sign”. He said that if the Collector issues the orders, they can fine the drivers for parking along the road.

Yogesh Nagvekar, heritage activist and resident of Gogol, said that the authorities are to be blamed for allowing construction without adequate parking. “CCTV is also needed provided they are maintained in working condition”, he said. He also suggested that government needs to reserve spaces along the eastern bypass for parking.

Further South near Hari Mandir, garbage is being dumped on either side of the bypass road. While people mistakenly assume the area falls within the jurisdiction of Margao Municipality, the area actually falls in the jurisdiction of Davorlim-Dicarpale Panchayat. Herald spoke to the Sarpanch of Davorlim Bina Kulkarni who informed that the Panchayat cleans the area twice a week but people keep dumping garbage. “We have cleaned the interior road last week and today we had planned to clean the road along the bypass but because of Chathurti, we had to postpone it”, she said.

The Eastern Bypass of Margao has been largely neglected by authorities since it falls between Margao Municipal area and neighbouring villages of Raia and Davorlim.