19 Aug 2017  |   04:05am IST

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT/ PARKING:

Finding an empty parking slot in Panjim on a weekday is a major exercise and at peak hours it is near impossible. One would expect it to be easier at night and on Sundays, but that too is changing.

Finding  an empty parking slot in Panjim on a weekday is a major exercise and at peak hours it is near impossible. One would expect it to be easier at night and on Sundays, but that too is changing. 

The pay-parking concept introduced on few roads turned out to be a major scam. It did not help in any manner to handle the haphazard parking woes. Moreover, a proper traffic management plan for the city is also yet to be worked out, even as over 90,000 vehicles enter the city on a daily basis.

The multi-level parking facility introduced by the Government at Santa Monica jetty, is turning out to be white elephant. The facility that proposes to house 450 vehicles, is hardly been used by anyone. 


OPPOSITION CHARGE: 

Traffic management is a complete mess.


PARRIKAR’S RESPONSE: 

For traffic, I have an action plan; you have to realise the vehicle population exploded, parking did not. However, the movement through the city is reduced due to the Goa University road.

Mala Bridge is near completion, which will be opened in near future; this will reduce pressure on traffic.

Steps taken to shift schools have further reduced traffic.

Some initiatives, like shifting all government offices out of Panjim to Patto in next two years in phased manner, are planned. 

Besides, new Mandovi Bridge will further reduce traffic at KTC bus stand.

IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar