Finding a parking spot in Panjim on a normal day can be quite a chore. At peak hours it can be impossible. Panjimites would normally think that parking on a Sunday would be better. However, now even parking on a Sunday in central Panjim can turn impossible at times.
Normal traffic flow issues aside, the city hosts various exhibitions in certain areas some of which are residential areas that draw hordes of people who have to park somewhere. No arrangements are made for parking and the police do not enforce any rules when people park haphazardly, block entrances to houses or park on footpaths. The reason – police complain they do not have towing facilities for cars and lack manpower.
But, residents of the areas question that if the police have the manpower to challan tourists and helmetless riders, why the lack of interest or will to enforce basic parking discipline in the city?
“The policemen should be placed in the inside lanes of Campal and enforcement should be done within the existing rules. There should be some planning,” Admiral Suresh Mehta, former chief of Navy and a resident of Campal and a victim of the haphazard parking and aggressive behaviour told Herald.
The Corporation of the City of Panaji is aware of the problems associated with festivals and exhibitions since 2008. First it was due to the garbage generated and now it was due to due to parking. For a while, CCP had even banned such exhibitions in the city centre. However, pressure from the government and the revenue it generates through fees has ensured that the corporation permits these exhibitions and also film shootings, which are another issue linked to parking problems.
“The past two days the situation was horrible,” said Campal resident Patricia Pinto, complaining of the inconvenience caused by these exhibitions. She said that vehicles were parked in such a manner that there were instances when residents could not enter their houses and two-wheelers were parked on footpaths as well as on turns.
“There is no fear of the law because there is no enforcement of traffic rules,” said Pinto, an allegation backed by Admiral Mehta and his wife. Their car was scratched by exhibition goers and entrances to their house and garage blocked.
“There has to be better planning. Parking areas have to be designated before the event starts and advertised along with the event,” says Pinto. “It is not impossible. It just requires the will to organize and implement.”
On the film shooting issue, another event that affects Campal as well as Mala areas, Mala councilor Rudresh Chodankar says his ward is a predominantly residential area and has very narrow roads.
“It is such a problem that we cannot take our cars to our houses,” he complains.
Kabir Pinto Makhija, deputy mayor and councillor of Campal area says that he has been fighting this battle for a long time now.
“On account of the limited parking space at the these venues, the traffic spills on to the main road, affecting the free flow of vehicles and causing traffic jams all along the Panjim-Campal-Miramar route as well as the lanes and by-lanes of Panjim,” he said. “Residents are inconvenienced as motorists with scant disregard for traffic laws, park their vehicles on both sides of the D B Marg, the lanes of the Campal Heritage Zone and wherever else they want, including on the pavements, and block entrances to colonies and people’s homes.”
He points out that in case of a medical or any other emergency, residents will not receive timely assistance as it will be difficult for emergency aid vehicles to manoeuvre their way through the traffic, and the access the concerned individual’s residence.
