VRISHANK MAHATME
vrishank@herald-goa.com
There are only a few takers for the multi-level car parking facility at Panjim even though it has been inaugurated on October 31. The Rs 35-crore project has a capacity to accommodate 465 cars and has been built on a total area of 2586 sq mts.
The parking arrangements have been designed on ground plus four levels, on an average 87 cars can be parked on each level, with two circular ramps for free movement of vehicle for entry and exit. However it’s been observed that there are only a few takers during the peak morning rush hours but on the side it can be seen that the parking facility is filled up towards the latter half of the day.
The parking facility was created in order to decongest the city traffic, so that locals who enter the city would park their vehicles there and later with the help of the hop-in bus service would be transported to their desired location. As Herald visited the parking facility it was observed that only tourists are taking full advantage by parking their vehicles in the latter half of the day.
As Herald spoke to some of the locals in Panjim, it was revealed that currently the facility is only occupied by the tourists who come to enjoy the Santa Monica boat rides and guests who visit the casinos.
“Only a few locals use the facility during the morning rush hours for which it was actually build for. However, it can be seen that during the latter half of the day it’s been fully utilised by the tourists and the parking bays are almost full,” said Anirudha Bhaje.
Another local resident had to say this “It can be clearly seen that locals are completely avoiding the facility. I won’t park my car at the facility and then catch a local bus which will totally be inconvenient. The parking facility is a huge hit which is only benefiting the tourists visiting the casinos and the Santa Monica boat rides.”
On the other side majority of the locals still say that this facility is only built to cater to the tourist vehicles who visit the casinos and the boat joy rides. Locals also feel that till the government announces a bus service from the facility to the city, no locals will park their vehicles.
“The area and the location, where the facility is built, looks like it is aimed just for the tourists, especially for the casinos and boat-ride customers. As of now, no bus services for local persons has been started and people who work in the Panjim market, 18 June Road would find it very difficult to park there and walk all the way unless a proper bus service is provided. If the aim is to decongest the traffic proper plans should be executed so that it helps the locals as well and not just tourists who come for a day or two,” said Adarsh Shettigar.
The MLCP has been constructed with the aim of easing traffic congestion in the capital city and improve vehicular movement in and around Panjim. However, locals feel the traffic congestion problem still exists as none of the local commuters park their vehicles at the facility.
