21 Nov 2020  |   05:51am IST

Traffic drive in Panjim intensifies as tourists increase and parking space decreases

Team Herald 

panjim: Several hundred tourists have been thronging the State and with the re-opening of casinos, number of tourists seems to have shot up rapidly. But in times of the ongoing pandemic when wearing of face masks and social distancing is necessary, the scene outside casino offices in the capital city speaks otherwise. 

The SOP on health and hygiene issued by the government is being thrown to the wind. The City Corporation, that has been given the authority to crack down on the violators, is yet to take a final call. 

Panjim Mayor Uday Madkaikar has conceded to have witnessed these violations among tourists outside casino offices. “We are willing to act against all those not wearing face masks and not adhering to social distancing, but we are being cautious so that tourists do not come up with allegations of harassment. The CCP will soon decide on this aspect,” the Mayor told Herald. 

Madkaikar, CCP staff and the Traffic police have been constantly patrolling the casino stretch towards the main road, MG Road and other areas to check for traffic violations, during the late hours. The last few days have recorded a number of violations by the rental and non-Goa registered vehicles. 

“We do not want the locals to be troubled by illegal parking of vehicles by the tourists. Therefore, the Traffic Police along with CCP are cracking down on the violating vehicles,” he said. 

The intervening night hours of November 18-19 saw over 100 vehicles caught parked in no-parking areas. Around 60 four-wheelers have been clamped and 75-odd two-wheelers lifted for having wrongly parked in the State capital. DySP Traffic (North Goa) Salim Sheikh informed that CCP officials are assisting the Traffic police to book the violators. “We allow alighting and embarking on the roadside, but not parking of vehicles. All those illegally parked vehicles are imposed fine,” he told Herald. 

The drive will also see Panjim MLA Atanasio Monserrate monitoring the situation. The Traffic Department, Sheikh said, will write to the Tourism Department to put up signanges along the city informing vehicle owners about the Multi Storey parking at Patto.  This attempt could help ease traffic congestion.