MARGAO: December brings absolute chaos to the residents of Panjim and all major suburbs and town such as Porvorim, Mapusa, Margao, Vasco etc. Life become a nightmare. Haphazard parking, double parking, vehicles coming from no entry zones and total absence of traffic police at crucial junctions leads to the chaos. Here is the traffic congestion witnessed in Goa on 30th December. Today we look at the traffic in Margao
Margao was once upon a time a beautiful town. However, with suffocating traffic, moving in Margao has become a nightmare. Parking on one side of the road and blocking one lane; Parking on footpaths, using setback as parking, using underground parking for godowns, blocking one side of road and absence of traffic police to direct the traffic are some of the reasons for traffic congestion in Margao.
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Savio Coutinho, who has been witness to the traffic snarls in Margao for decades, says people go round and round the municipal garden since there is not dedicated parking slot. “We have been trying to have a multilevel parking for decades, because it is being sabotaged. Recently they (Margao Municipality ) were talking of hydraulic parking. Everyone knows that this is not feasible. The ring road plan which was there from 1985 to 1995 was intended to link all internal roads right from Railway station, Aquem, Rawanfond to Comba so that traffic is decongested.”
Dinesh Kakodkar, a Margao resident disclosed, “In Margao the traffic congestion takes place because there is no proper place for parking. Secondly, everyone tries to drive to the town with their four wheeler and then search for a parking space. There is simply no place for parking even if one comes for marketing. There are big buildings coming up in Margao, but they using the underground parking to put up shops. They don’t show parking space.”
Gopal Naik, President of New Market Traders Association observed, “There is no place for parking, so people park anyhow and anywhere. If a parking place is developed, half our issues will be solved. Now the Margao opens at 4am with all migrant vendors. They come and occupy all the parking spaces. Migrant vendors even sit on both sides of the Station road, blocking the easy movement of traffic. For Christmas, they were sitting till opposite Bank of Baroda, the entire stretch was packed with vendors. I have already submitted a letter to the SP, to the Police Inspector traffic etc.
Matin Carol, another resident of Margao say that supermarkets and malls do not have parking space, they convert their basement parking into godowns. “The setback is used as a parking. Setback is made for road expansion, it is not meant for parking. See the Davorlim-Arlem highway, supermarkets have been opened, but they have not provided for parking. Parking space has been converted into godowns.”
