Those driving into Panjim have been complaining about the ever-growing traffic, but are these motorists ready to sacrifice the comfort of their cars and hop onto a transit bus to get inside the capital city. Also, bringing cars into the city will pinch one’s pockets as the Corporation of the City of Panaji is gearing up to levy congestion tax on incoming vehicles in an effort to discourage more cars from entering the city and at the same time introduce rapid mass transport system to facilitate fast travel within city limits. But the CCP and other agencies, who have worked and put this plan together, are banking on support from the people to make it a success to put the city back on track
JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBERS
At least 800 vehicles enter the city, park and leave in the evening
Around 7,000 vehicles enter the city every month
70,000 odd new vehicles registered last year
GLENN COSTA
PANJIM: Panjim’s transportation and parking problems and interlinked and that only a comprehensive well thought out solution is the only way out, has dawned on authorities and experts as well. Surprisingly, there also seems to be a lot of consensus on what the solutions are. But despite this broad consensus, there does not seems to be concerted action to sort out this problem and life goes on as people froth and fume when caught in traffic jams or do not find parking.
Unmanageable traffic entering the city, lack of parking spaces, issuing NOCs for buildings which violate parking norms, are all fuelling the traffic problems in the city which are increasing at an exponential rate, especially given that at least 85% of Goans own both four wheelers and two wheelers in a single household.
“We have to reorganize the public transportation system and rationalize parking spaces,” director of transport Arun Desai said, enumerating the problems that ail the city.
Illegal stops out, bus bays in
If illegal stops by city buses are stopped and regularized, they would decongest traffic, feels Desai. The painting of bus bays and finalising of bus stops are already done and will soon be put in place, he says, adding that this will decongest traffic. He adds the city buses will have to stop at designated places only and not anywhere and everywhere as they are doing now, even as there is no challaning of buses which violate rules. Unauthorized parking could lead to fines of upto Rs 2,000 on erring drivers. These unauthorized stops block traffic especially since most buses do not have parking/brake lights and halt on narrow roads or on turns blinding oncoming or overtaking traffic adding to traffic congestion during peak hours.
Rationalize bus routes. Separate permits for outer ring route and internal ones
The government will also try and rationalize the bus routes. At present out of the 70 permits issued, there are 40 city buses operating between the Kadamba Bus stand and Miramar. So a majority of buses are stuck on these routes, the director of transport says. “Now in 15 minutes we see 10 buses piling up, leading to major congestion,” Desai says, adding that this has to change.
The plan is to change the routes to go further. The larger buses are to get permits only to ply from the KTC via market, Campal, Miramar, Goa University, Goa Medical College and then via the highway back to the bus stand.
“Some buses can be allowed to do the reverse and when this happens then there won’t be any congestion,” Desai says adding that the smaller busses can then be used on the internal roads.
Making travel on public
transport pleasant
According to Desai, because of the very bad public transport, which the transport department has to regulate, people use private vehicles. So the next step after this is to improve the quality of the public transport system to reduce the number of private vehicles on the road. The public transport system in the city is pathetic and there are numerous complaints of overcrowding, rude and boorish behaviour by conductors and cleaners, non issuance of tickets, overcharging, non-usage of uniforms with name tags etc.
You enter, you pay
“Cars and bikes should not be allowed into the city. They should be kept outside at designated large common free parking areas on the outskirts. To come into the city public transport should be used,” says Soter D’Souza, a social and civic activist. Calling this a serious problem he says at least initially the zone from the post office to the market should be made car-free zone. “As far as possible, walking should be encouraged,” he proposed, adding that public transport should be available at a nominal charge. Desai was also of the view that a congestion tax should be levied to discourage the entry of cars, a view echoed by urban planner, Rahul Deshpande, who also wanted parking rates in the city to be high, advocated the carrot and stick approach. However, most agree that the public transport system has to first improve. Soter was of the opinion that pay parking was not a solution. Meanwhile, nother issue of residents of Panjim proper having to bring their vehicles into the city has to be sorted out. This is possible through comprehensive city mobility and parking plan.
PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
Reduce the influx of private vehicles into the city
Make roads one way
Introduce a rapid good quality public transport system with excellent coverage, and ferries to take the burden off the roads
Introduce off-site and on-street parking options
Develop a pedestrian network which connects safely the main landmarks in the city (market, church, green spaces…)
Develop a cycling network
