In a mere one and a half month of the formation of the new City Corporation, led by Surendra Furtado, a major fight has erupted between the Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monsserrate-backed panel and the BJP-supported councilors over the much-delayed and debated pay parking issue.
After initially opposing the concept citing several reasons and problems likely to be faced by residents, the BJP panel – in the opposition – is now banking its protest on the revised pay parking fees arguing that the costs are exorbitant. The councilors even threatened to hold a protest march on Thursday, incidentally on the day when the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) will take a final a call on the rates.
“The CCP should immediately roll back the hiked rates. How can vehicle users and residents in the city afford such high prices? Pay parking should not be a source of revenue; it should instead be used to bring discipline in the traffic system,” corporator Menino D’Cruz said.
The Furtado-led corporation had finalized 18 places for pay-parking including commercial street 18 June road, Church Square, Pandurang Pisurlekar, Dr R S Road, T B Cunha Road, Menezes Braganza Road, Dr Govind Vaidhya Road, Bhosle Square, Swami Vivekananda Road, A B road and other small lanes. The standing committeeapproved charging Rs 20 for the first two hours for four-wheelers while two-wheelers will have to shell out Rs 10 for parking up to four hours.
BJP’s former Mayors and present corporators Vaidehi Naik and Shubham Chodankar, also objecting to the latest move, claim the rates are just not feasible for the common man.
The pay-parking issue has often been discussed since 2012 when Naik headed the CCP as Mayor, and approved a proposal on January 24, 2013 to approach the North Goa district collector to notify certain roads. The rate was then fixed at Rs 4 for first two hours. However, the proposal was forwarded to the Collector only when Furtado took over in 2014 as the BJP was never in the favour. Since then there have been three tenders, all of which lapsed owing to severe opposition from the BJP-backed panel.
Furtado shot back at the BJP-panel stating, “Ask BJP why their (former) Mayor Shubham Chodankar did not sign the work order when it was tendered by him twice and work order was ready in January.”
He explained that the rates are an attempt to discourage vehicle owners to park ideally.
The whole drama has left CCP Commissioner Sanjith Rodrigues frustrated as the project is only being delayed further.
