Team Herald
PANJIM: Due to the negligence of the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP), pedestrians and tourists are compelled to avoid the stairway leading to Altinho from opposite the Immaculate Conception Church in the city.
The stairway, which leads to District and Sessions Court, is in pathetic condition as it is infested with overgrown grass and bushes. Empty liquor bottles and garbage are strewn all around the stairway. The concrete railings are broken which needs urgent repairs. The stairway was re-developed with an objective to improve pedestrian access to Altinho. As it is not maintained by the civic body the anti-social elements have taken over. They eat, drink and create nuisance and urinate on the stairway.
Redeveloped under the Smart City Mission and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (GSIDC), the stairway project was handed over to the CCP for maintenance. However, the Corporation has failed to pay attention to this asset which also attracts foreign tourists.
Pranav Naik who works at a canteen in Altinho and who used to take the stairway regularly said that it is now completely unsafe for pedestrians.
“I stopped using the stairway as I saw snakes, now I take an alternate route to Altinho,” he said.
Anupama Mardolkar, a student who stays in a hostel at Altinho, said that she feels unsafe while taking the stairway alone, as she has seen people drinking and playing cards on the stairway.
“We take the stairway because it’s a short cut route to Altinho, I am scared to take the stairway alone, and I go only when someone is there to accompany me,” she said.
The upgradation work of the stairway was started in October 2016, and completed in February 18, subsequently it was handed over to the CCP for maintenance.
Commissioner of Corporation of City of Panaji Agnelo Fernandes, admitted that the stairway has not been maintained and he claimed that the garbage was cleared from the stairway on Tuesday. However, when this reporter visited the site in the evening, the garbage and liquor bottles including broken ones were seen all over.
“The stairway was repaired and upgraded for safe pedestrian movability, garbage has been cleared and bushes will be cleaned on Wednesday,” Fernandes said.
Panjim Town Police Inspector Nikhil Palekar said that the police patrol will be stepped up in the area and if anyone is found drinking in the open or creating nuisance will be booked.
