Team Herald
PONDA: Traffic congestion reached a peak in Ponda City as footpath vending surged for Diwali (Laxmi Puja) shopping, with hundreds of vendors occupying the pavements to sell festival goods. Shoppers on two-wheelers and cars found themselves stuck in prolonged traffic jams, with local residents voicing frustration over the blocked footpaths and criticising the traffic police for failing to handle the Diwali rush.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Ponda resident Viraj Sapre noted that allowing vendors to set up shop along the roadside has worsened traffic issues, as shoppers often stop their vehicles abruptly to purchase goods from these roadside stalls, adding to the gridlock. “At least next year, PMC should plan in a better way,” he stated, urging traffic police to focus more on traffic management during festivals rather than simply issuing challans.
Activist Rockey Dias echoed similar frustrations, noting that it took him 45 minutes to travel from the bus stand to the market. “Many people came to buy fruits, flowers, and other items for the festival, but there was little space for parking with the roads taken up by vendors,” he remarked, calling for better planning for high-traffic periods.
Recently, Ponda Market vendors held a protest at the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC), demanding action to remove footpath vendors from the roads. Gharu Sawant, President of the Vendors Association at Ponda Market pointed out that they had launched a morcha on the PMC just days before Diwali, urging the council to clear footpath vendors. However, the council deferred the decision, noting it would only last four days. “Now that these four days are over, PMC should clear these footpath vendors immediately,” Sawant stated, adding that there is ample vacant space within Ponda Market to accommodate the vendors.
