If streamlining the traffic flow in the State capital was one of the aims of the pay parking system that was introduced in Panjim in February last year then it has not occurred. Arterial streets like the 18th June Road and MG Road still see double parking which holds up traffic much like it did in the past. If earning for the coffers of the Corporation of the City of Panaji was another aim of the system, then that too does not appear to have met with much success. The Corporation is receiving just above Rs 5 lakh a month from the pay parking contractor, while the people who are stationing their vehicles on the streets are paying exorbitant amounts as parking fees.
Simultaneously, for the residents of Panjim this has not come as a boon but has turned into a burden as even 17 months after the pay parking was system was initiated, the residents who had been earlier promised a pass for parking – one pass per house – have yet to receive such a pass from the corporation leading to frustration at the slow pace at which the corporation works and the unconcern that the council shows towards those who elected them to be their representatives. Despite assurances, there has been no progress on this and the manner in which the current council is working on the issue, there appears to be no likelihood of any change for the positive.
Herald reported on July 28 that the Panjim Mayor Rohit Monserrate has indicated that the corporation doesn’t intend to implement free parking for residents anytime soon, while the Deputy Mayor Vasant Agshikar had assured that residents do not have to pay for parking in front of their own houses. If the Mayor and his deputy are not on the same page on the issue, what can be expected from the rest of the Council? Former Mayor Uday Madkaikar, during whose term the pay parking system had been initiated had promised the passes within 15 days, but over 15 months later there is no sign of them and within the council there appears to be little consensus on this.
However, almost all those who spoke to Herald on the issue for the report was unanimous on the need of passes for residents of Panjim. The question that arises, therefore, is why is CCP against this? As was questioned by a former councillor, who is the delay supposed to benefit? Should this system be benefitting the contractor or the public? As of now it is the contractor that is benefitting from the system and definitely not residents nor the motorists that visit the city as traffic snarls have not improved. One can even question whether the Corporation of the City of Panaji is benefitting in any way from this as the earnings of approximately Rs 5 lakh a month cannot be described as susbtantial for a corporation of a Capital city.
Corporation of the City of Panaji has to learn to earn revenue by means other than further taxing the residents of the city. The suggestion made by the former MLA of the city, Sidharth Kuncalienkar, that the only way this can be solved is by charging for parking at new dedicated spots created for the purpose and not for parking on the roadside has to be seriously considered by the corporation. The general consensus is that the Corporation of the City of Panaji should not levy any parking fee on the residents in the areas where there live. Whether the council will act on behalf of its citizens or whether on behalf of the contractor will depend on the decision it takes in this regard.
