Former South Goa collector, N D Agarwal, during his tenure issued two notifications, first on April 19, 2012 giving power to the Vasco traffic cell to make corrections with regard to disorderly traffic in the port city and the second which gives power to regulate the entry and exit of vehicles on city roads.
Both these notifications were passed over two years ago and yet the traffic cell is helpless in their attempts to carry out strict enforcement. This is due to the lack of funds for this purpose.
“We have received the notifications long back and have forwarded a request to Mormugao Municipal Council asking them to expedite the work for installation of traffic sign boards,” the traffic cell in charge of Vasco Traffic cell, Police Inspector Sudesh Narvekar told Herald.
Narvekar is possibly unaware that the cash-ridden MMC can easily release money but the purpose for the release has to be related to festivals or other events. However, this is for a public purpose. “I’m not saying that the council should not celebrate festivals but I would certainly feel bad if the municipality doesn’t give enough attention to traffic discipline in Vasco. We require proper marking of parking slots in the city,” said MMC councilor Neny D’souza.
According to traffic police, the pending installation of traffic sign boards and marking of parking slots are two important issues that are creating a hindrance for effective enforcement of traffic rules and regulation. “A proposal to sponsor the traffic cell with 335 signboards has been received by the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL). This will be delivered soon after the approval of the GSL board,” a GSL officer told Herald.
Herald conducted a check in the streets of Vasco to figure whether the traffic issue was really hurting commuters to and from the city. “It’s horrible,” said Domnic Almeida from Dabolim adding that he used to bring his car earlier but now prefers the comfort of his bike to maneuver through the city. It is safe to assume that everyone who travels through Vasco by vehicle thinks twice before coming either for official or financial purposes.
Vasco currently has around 3278 parking facilities available at prime locations of which 675 are earmarked for four wheelers and the remaining for two wheelers. However, only about 60 percent of these parking spaces can be put to use while the rest is wasted. “A lot of people park their vehicles badly and use up more than one parking space due to which a lot of slots are wasted,” acknowledged Narvekar.
Although the issue of incorrect parking is the main reason for wastage of space, a lot of shop owners block spots as well which add to the issue. “Wine store owners say that they have taken permission to keep the area in front of their establishments private. Shopkeepers park their scooters in a four wheeler parking spot or parallel to the road and end up wasting space,” complained Vasco resident, Pramod Amonkar.
If the Vasco authorities are serious about resolving parking woes, then the enforcement of parking discipline is the need of the hour.
