Team Herald
PANJIM: While the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) has proposed major facelift of the dilapidated Dona Paula jetty, by way of constructing 60-meters long Glass Bridge walk, the residence in and around the area have urged the authorities to prioritize parking space for the tourist vehicles, before going ahead with the redevelopment of the jetty, which is a tourism hotspot.
IPSCDL, the nodal agency for undertaking redevelopment of Dona Paula jetty, view point with pedestrianization of approach road, on Thursday held citizen consultation on the proposed project, which speaks about restricting entry of private vehicles and tourist taxis, rather than those belonging to the residents, on the access road.
The proposal also speaks about a market stretch, lower deck and new jetty. The 60 meters long Glass Bridge is going to be the main attraction of the redevelopment proposal, apart from the existing statues on the hillock.
Former Panjim MLA Siddharat Kuncolienkar and former Taleigao MLA Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate attended the consultation meet.
While the residents welcomed the redevelopment concept, their main concern was that government should first work out a dedicated parking facility for the tourist vehicles. Residents pointed out how apart from haphazard parking leading to blocking entry to their own houses, the drivers and others are involved in open urinating and defecation in the surrounding causing nuisance. They also sought to know whether study has been undertaken on the total number of visitors visiting jetty daily and the carrying capacity.
“Before thinking about redevelopment, it is important government allot a dedicated parking space for these vehicles. These vehicles are nothing but nuisance. They are parking in haphazard manner causing much inconvenience to the local residence and even to the students of Our Lady of the Rosary school,” a resident and architect Bryan Soares said.
He pointed out that in absence of dedicated parking facility, it is impossible to go ahead with the redevelopment project as it will put additional burden on the infrastructure further causing chaos.
Soares even opined that government should work out a revenue generating model, which will also help in restricting entry of tourists and also get quality visitors.
Another resident was very much clear that without parking, there is no question of redevelopment. “Redevelopment will bring in more tourists. Where are we going to park their vehicles? If no space, then what is the point of redevelopment? It will further stress the infrastructure thus worsening the situation,” he said.
Responding to the parking query, IPSCDL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Swayandipta Pal Chaudhuri said that tourism department under Sagarmala project has acquired 16,000 sq mtrs of land near NIO guest house for developing parking lot. He also admitted that before going ahead with the project, parking issue needs to be sorted out.
Architect Rahul Deshpande pointed out that the Glass bridge will not be a success and can lead to wasteful expenditure, as the maintenance of it is very expensive and delicate. “In 2004-05, we tried the concept in Boca de Wagh but it failed completely as we were not able to maintain it. So, here too, we are launching in big scale, who is going to maintain it and how,” he said.
He along with other residence urged authorities not to touch the existing hillock structure as any concretization may lead to the structure losing out it historic importance and also sensitivity.
Residence were also of the opinion that IPSCDL should undertake impact assessment study of the project as there are many fishermen whose livelihood is dependent.
