New Market traders throw traffic off-gear in Margao

New Market traders throw traffic off-gear in Margao
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, NOV 27  
Agitated over the decision to notify the pick-up stand road as no parking for four-wheelers, Margao New Market traders stopped traffic flow on the busy road this morning, throwing traffic out of gear in the city.
Traffic was restored only after Margao Sub Divisional Police Officer, DySP Umesh Gaonkar rushed to the spot and persuaded the agitating traders to withdraw their stir, promising to redress their grievances with the district magistrate.
Led by Vinod Shirodkar, the traders blocked the traffic flow this morning in protest against the no parking boards erected along the Pick-up stand between Royal Foods and Borkar Super Stores.
They demanded the immediate removal of the boards meant for parking only for two-wheelers along the busy road or threatened to take the law in their hands.
“This stretch of road is being utilised by the traders for unloading of goods. We would face problems if the stretch is notified for two-wheelers”, he said.
An agitated Shirodkar demanded to know how and the basis on which the authorities, including the district magistrate and traffic officials decided to denotify the area for four-wheelers.
“If the authorities are so serious in addressing the parking issue, they should first crack a whip against the multi-storey buildings, which have come up in violations of all parking rules”, he demanded.
DySP Gaonkar, however, told the traders to submit a detailed memorandum listing out their grievances and promised to find a solution after discussions with the district magistrate. “The parking boards cannot be removed as per the whims and fancies since they are notified by the district magistrate”, DySP Gaonkar told Shirodkar and other traders.
A large posse of police, including armed police personnel were deployed near the pick-up stand area as a precautionary measure.