Team Herald
PANJIM: Parts of Panjim will not offer free parking for any vehicle from Saturday, not even outside one’s own house, as the Corporation of The City of Panaji’s (CCP) long awaited pay parking policy has been re-introduced.
The system, aimed at bringing a sweeping change in the way vehicle owners look at parking on public roads, has not spared even the taxi and other commercial hubs. The commercial establishments, just like other vehicle owners, will also be levied parking fees.
While majority businessmen have welcomed the step, they expect some courteousness considering that their vehicles are parking almost all through the day.
“There are several shops that have at least one vehicle for transportation of products from one place to another. A levying parking fee on us is like an additional financial burden,” proprietor of a Dry Fruits wholesale and retail shop, around the market vicinity, told Herald wishing anonymity.
A vegetable vendor too expressed reservation over the parking fees. Vasudev Malik, who runs his vegetable shop for nearly 15 years, shared the same opinion.
“I have a mini truck transporting vegetables besides my own two-wheeler. In fact many running their business might not be happy that they too will be charged, because we are here for a minimum 12 hours daily,” he argued.
Owner of a four-wheeler will have to pay Rs 20 for the first hour and Rs 15 every extra hour thereafter, whereas a two-wheeler owner will pay Rs 4 upto four hours and Rs 8 between 4 to 12 hours. The agency Juwarkar Associates has already installed pay parking boards and painting the pay parking areas except for the Campal Heritage precinct where the rough patch of roads will delay the implementation by about three days.
The floating population in the capital and the residents are nevertheless contented with the re-commencement of the pay parking. Their main grievance is the unnecessary parking of vehicles all through the day and night.
“Many pockets of Panjim have vehicles glued to the parking space for several hours. Many motorists, who visit a particular place for even few minutes, have to look out for proper parking place. I feel re-introducing pay parking was needed,” a St Inez resident Vaishali Gaonkar said.
To relieve vehicle owners from paying hefty sum, a pass system has been introduced on monthly, quarterly and yearly basis. City Mayor Uday Madkaikar, while speaking to Herald, disclosed that Rs 2,000 monthly pass; Rs 5,250 quarterly pass and Rs 18,000 for one year, is on par with concession.
“The pass holders will save some amount, to what they would pay on a daily basis,” he said while allaying worries by commercial hubs on hefty fees.
Madkaikar further went on to add that no individual or taxis or commercial establishments would otherwise get any relief on the payment front. This however excludes government vehicles as well as old buildings where parking was not created at the time of construction.
“Each flat in the old buildings and/or old houses will be given one free pass, provided they show house tax,” the mayor said.
The three-year contract to Juwarkar will also fetch Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) a monthly amount of Rs 4.50 lakh. In a bid to ensure CCP does not suffer loss as it did couple of years ago due to scam in pay parking, Madkaikar said they have already secured Rs 1.12 crore from the present agency.
“The pay parking contractor has already deposited Rs 96 lakh as bank guarantee (60 per cent of the bidding amount), Rs 16 lakh deposit (10 per cent of the bidding amount) and 36 post dated cheques… We are fully secured. We have already got payment of Rs 1.12 crore approximately from them,” he said.
As many as 50 staff will be posted across the pay parking areas. Their presence will also help prevent double or wrong parking, Madkaikar said.
The Collector and District Magistrate North Goa had last month notified the pay parking areas comprising of 18th June Road commencing from junction of A B Road, Elvina Britto Road and Cunha Riveira Road to D B Marg via Pharmacy College; A B Road commencing from John Paul Building to Caritas Complex, Dom Joao de Castro Road commencing from Old Patto Bridge to Old Secretariat, Elvina Britto Road (Church Square), Roque Souza Road commencing from Elvina Britto Road to M G Road via Velhos Filhos Building, Cunha Riveira Road commencing from 18th June Road to M G Road via Hindu Pharmacy, link road between Cunha Riveira Road and Roque Souza Road, Messias Gomes Road commencing from road between Cunha Riveira Road and Roque Souza Road and Campal Heritage Precinct.
