Parking of vehicles on the streets of Margao has virtually become a norm rather than an exception for want of parking lots and multi-storey parking facilities. Unlike other towns and cities, however, Margao is blessed with vacant spots in the heart of the town, which is choked with traffic, and around Old Market – an area which is fast emerging as the town’s administrative and business hub. Sadly, while successive governments have promised to tide over the burning parking problem with multi-storey parking lots, the ground reality remains unchanged. Guilherme Almeida finds that vehicular parking has not received the priority it deserves but has received only lip service from the powers that be over the years.
Margao parking lots gets a delayed push from MMC
Senior GSUDA officials admitted in private that the two projects have not seen much progress since last year due to the delay in receiving the MMC resolution.
A proposal for two parking facilities by Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) to the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) months ago received the civic body’s in principle nod only around 7-8 days ago.
Hopes that the parking problems in Margao would be resolved were raised early last year when Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza, who holds the Urban Development portfolio, announced that GSUDA will build two parking lots in the town. What had further raised hopes was the announcement that the parking projects would be funded by GSUDA without any financial implications for the cash-starved MMC.
Inquiries as to the status of the projects revealed that GSUDA had held as many as 4-5 power point presentations for the Margao City Fathers, as well as the MLAs, to ensure the two projects get a smooth passage, but the council’s in-principle nod came just a week ago. Senior GSUDA officials admitted in private that the two projects have not made much headway since last year due to the delay in receiving the MMC resolution.
“Without the Council nod, GSUDA could not act on its proposal. We have now sent the file to the PDA for relaxation of height restrictions. Our Mumbai-based consultant has now been told to prepare the estimates for the two projects. If everything goes well, the tender for the two projects will be floated by May,” a senior GSUDA official said.
The parking proposal opposite the KTC bus stand on land acquired by the Margao Municipal Council entails developing the area for ground parking. Unlike the pick-up stand area, which will be developed into a basement/ground cum seven storey building, the land opposite the KTC will be developed only for ground parking to accommodate around 464 four-wheelers and around 522 two-wheelers.
GSUDA officials are hopeful that the proposal will take concrete shape by December this year if the tender is floated by May. Once completed, it is expected to cater to the Old Market-KTC area.
The parking proposal at the pick-up stand area envisages construction of RCC structure at the basement/ground floor level, followed by a mechanical/hydraulic operated system beyond the first floor.
GUSDA officials conceded that the pick-up stand parking proposal will take at least two years for completion of the project given the RCC construction of the structure. While the officials have set a minimum 18-month time frame for the completion of the project, sources said it may take more than two years to put the parking lot in place.
