PANJIM: The Public Interest Litigation seeking relief in the vehicular parking and traffic issues on the Dona Paula Jetty Road has been disposed after accepting the measures that have been taken by the State Government to resolve the grievances of the litigants.
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has dismissed the intervention application filed by the Dona Paula residents by ordering the Superintendent of Police (Traffic) to take strict action against any attempt on the part of the intervenors or any other person, made to disturb the smooth flow of traffic at the jetty.
The High Court has accepted the measures taken by the State government/Traffic Department and observed that the petitioners’ grievances stand substantially redressed. It may be recalled that the residents and the others running businesses around the Dona Paula jetty had filed a PIL before the HC, praying for the establishment of parking and toilet facilities, to regulate the smooth flow of traffic around NIO Junction at Dona Paula and strictly enforce the No Parking Zones around the NIO Junction and the roads converging to the junction.
The Dona Paula Jetty has been closed for tourism since 2018, due to ongoing renovation works.
The re-opening of the jetty had hit a hurdle after the abovementioned PIL and subsequent interventions were filed. The jetty is now set to be opened to public on December 5. While visitors to the scenic location will be required to park their vehicles at a parking lot next to Green Rosary School, the residents of the area will receive special vehicle stickers that will allow them to drive to their homes, and park on designated spots on the stretch.
Application forms along with residential proof and vehicle details for issue of these car passes will have to be addressed to the Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Altinho and can be submitted at the Dona Paula Police Outpost. The stickers are likely to be sponsored by local businessmen, said the litigant Rainer Dias.
