Weekend traffic in Calangute is a nightmare. Due to the large influx of cars, buses and SUVs from neighbouring States, all heading to the parking lot on the old football ground, traffic comes to a standstill for long periods in Calangute.
I have been studying the situation for some time and suggest the following measures to ease the traffic situation in Calangute.
The root cause of the regular traffic gridlock, is the parking ground. Large and extra-large tourist buses from other states find it extremely difficult to enter or exit the parking lot as the road is not wide enough to manoeuvre them.
It takes several minutes for just one large bus to enter or exit, holding up traffic on all sides. The hold-up of vehicles results in a gridlock which extends right up to Dr Jack Sequeira’s statue and far beyond. I suggest that parking on the old football ground be allowed only for cars, vans, mini-buses and two-wheelers.
The entry for these vehicles should be from the existing entrance but the exit should be from the far end of the football ground nearer beach, for smooth movement. Large tourist buses must not be allowed to park on the ground (except Kadamba buses to the 2 airports).
These buses must drop and pick up tourists at designated places (KFC, Baga junction and the beach) similar to local tourism buses that operate in the state of Goa. After dropping tourists, the buses must move out of Calangute to a designated area, 10-15 minutes away.
If space is available, they may return only to pick up their passengers at the designated places or near their hotels. This plan should take care of the traffic gridlock. However, traffic police will need to patrol the beach road constantly as tourists park their bikes and cars to shop all along the road. Just one PCR van with a loudspeaker will do the trick.
