Team Herald
MARGAO: Several fruit and vegetable vendors have encroached upon the main roads of the town at various locations for quite some time, leading to significant traffic jams. Concerned authorities, including the Margao and Fatorda police, are yet to take action against them.
The situation along the road from Margao to Borda to Fatorda is no different, with vendors occupying numerous spots. Some have even set up stalls along the highway stretches, hindering the smooth flow of traffic as people stop anywhere to make purchases.
Much to the surprise of law-abiding citizens, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) and Margao police have not initiated action against these unauthorised vendors, allowing the traffic situation to worsen during peak hours.
Vendors can be seen along Rawanfond road, Borda-Margao road, the road proceeding from Navelim towards Dramapur-Sirlim, as well as in the areas of Aquem, Vidhyanagar Housing Board, Colva and other villages.
A large temporary stall near Aquem, by the side of the road leading from the powerhouse to the railway station, remains in place despite a previous inspection by authorities, who had instructed its removal.
Prominent citizen Siddesh Prabhudessai stated that during the pandemic, several vendors set up temporary stalls under trees and along highway stretches, which have since become permanent without any licensing from the MMC.
“The traffic problem is aggravated by these roadside fruit vendors,” he said, adding that people with light vehicles and bikes stop on the road to buy fruits and other items, causing traffic jams.
Mahesh Nayak, a social worker noted that in Margao’s new market, vendors have encroached on municipal land and are conducting business without any intervention from the MMC.
“Most of them have converted sopo premises into stalls and have encroached on municipal land, due to which people can’t move freely. Will the Margao Municipality take action?" he asked.