The traffic cell of Margao recently proposed to impose pay parking areas in South Goa’s biggest town. The proposal for the same was handed over to the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) and was tabled at a recent meeting. Herald made attempts to make people of the town aware about how and what areas will be considered as pay parking zones.
Margao has been battling parking issues for the past 15 years. According to traffic police, nearly 82,787 vehicles enter the town from all directions, out of which, 10 percent are considered to be inter-state vehicles moving towards Karwar, Belgaum or vice-versa. The other 90 percent are from the town and adjoining areas like Navelim, Chandor, Cuncolim and Curtorim. This has been causing a lot of traffic due to haphazard parking and the entry of heavy vehicles.
Now, in a bid to get rid of parking issues around the town, the traffic cell has sent a fresh proposal of over 29 pay parking spots. The pay parking areas and model proposed by the cell is intended to accommodate over 250 vehicles and will also serve as a source of revenue for the town.
The state government has declared the state as a 365 day tourism destination. A large number of both, international and domestic tourists visit Goa yearly. Many of these tourists visit Margao in a hired vehicle or taxi. Also, being the district HQ, many government offices are located within the town. Hence many officials travel with their own vehicles and occupy parking spaces.
The increasing number of cars on the road has put tremendous pressure on the road network of Margao. The large number of eateries and hotels in the town are also attractions which draw more vehicles to Margao. This results in traffic congestion and many people occupying parking spaces for a long duration. Owners of commercial establishments also take up a number of spots for the entire day, further escalating the issue.
The traffic cell, in its proposal states, “Our analysis is that most available spaces aren’t used effectively. The available spaces are occupied by the owners of commercial establishments to park their vehicles all day long, thereby keeping parking spaces occupied for the entire day.”
“Realising the increasing challenge posed by the parking issue in Margao and to make parking spaces available, it is necessary to review the existing spaces and creating more spaces in order to avoid or reduce the congestion and thereby accidents,” stated Mohan Gaude, PI of the traffic cell.
The proposal is based on the objective of providing parking to primarily light motor vehicles (LMV). It is also aimed at offering a systematic and properly managed facility with the organized placement of vehicles and optimum utilization of space. The proposal also aims to generate employment for various people.
The roads in question are Isidore Baptista road, Varde Valaulikar road, Martin road, Luis Miranda road, Minguel Loyola de Furtado road, stretches of NH-17 in the heart of the town and Francis Luis Gomes road, Acsanio road, M Menezes road and some stretches of the Seraulim road. Major city roads are also part of the proposal.
The MMC has already given a go ahead for the pay parking project under the condition that the traffic cell takes the MMC into confidence. The Dy SP of traffic, Prabodh Shirvoikar says, “The pay parking system is a universal system of bringing in discipline into the way people drive and park. It is a necessity for Margao. The project has to be planned and executed soon.”
