PANJIM: A Panjim based motorist alleged that he was abused with filthy language by pay parking staff, on Thursday, when he insisted on being shown a proper board which indicated the correct parking rates. He also alleged that the rates on the boards in Panjim were torn and he was not obligated to pay.
He said the harassment of vehicle users does not stop at that but alleged that tourists were being looted since the rates on the boards were torn. “The pay parking staff charge casino goers between Rs 200 to Rs 500.”
An eyewitness testified that the pay parking staffer had used filthy language against the Goan motorist who had parked his vehicle near Garcia de Orta, Panjim.
When questioned, CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate confirmed that pay parking had resumed in Panjim from June 1, since now most of the roads had been done up.
The motorist told the media, “Have a look at the parking boards. The problem is there is no board (near Garcia de Orta) and we are being forced to pay the parking fee. The pay parking staffers use filthy language against vehicle users. This is not acceptable. Panjimites need not listen to these. They have been brought from Uttar Pradesh and (without sign boards), they are telling us to pay the fee or park somewhere else.”
“I just told him to show me the board and he started abusing me. You have a look at all the boards in Panjim. They charge between Rs 200 to Rs 500 from casino goers. CCP and traffic police should take action against them,” he reiterated.
An eyewitness, who washes cars near Garcia de Orta confirmed that the pay parking staffer had used foul language against the motorist. “The motorist told the pay parking staffer, he has a business here and he cannot pay the parking fees. The pay parking staff said he has to do his collection. So the motorists asked him for the rate board. The board is torn. The staffer then told him ‘don’t you have Rs 20 in your pocket, are you a beggar?’ and abused him.”
When questioned by the media, the pay parking staffer said the motorist would not pay the fees, since he has a shop nearby. When asked why he had used bad words, the staffer faltered. Instead, he alleged that the motorist had abused him. He denied that he had said that the motorist did not have the capacity to pay Rs 20.
Mayor assures to replace pay parking boards
PANJIM: Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) Mayor Rohit Monserrate said that CCP Commissioner Clen Madeira has been instructed to issue a notice to pay parking contractor to replace all pay parking boards.
“We have also noticed that the rate boards are not there. So I have told the Commissioner to send a notice to the pay parking contractor asking him to replace all the boards,” Monserrate said.
However, he said there will be no changes in the rates charged for parking vehicles.
He said, if any pay parking staff misbehaves with any motorists then there should be a written complaint so that action could be taken.
“There is no written complaint filed. Everyone is saying verbally but nothing is coming on record. Whenever people of Panjim have raised the issue we have spoken to the contractors. As far as tourists are concerned nobody has come forward. Unless that happens we cannot take action. If somebody submits a complaint then obviously we will take action against the contractors. As far as boards are concerned we will get them replaced,” the Mayor said.
The CCP had restarted collecting parking fees from vehicles parked in the capital city with effect from June 1, 2024. Earlier, it had stopped collecting the parking fees since March 24, in view of ongoing Smart City works.
