It’s a decade and half since the new Margao railway station was commissioned after the Konkan Railway was dedicated to the nation in the late 90’s. While the Konkan Railway Corporation has put a system in place to regulate traffic with parking lots in front of the railway station, the Aquem side of the station — the area just outside the footbridge resemble chaos and an eyesore.
On Gandhi Jayanti Day, local Margao MLA Digambar Kamat with Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik and other citizens in tow descended outside the Aquem side of the station with spades and brooms for a cleanup operation. The mess caused by locals and visitors, however, cannot be wiped out in a single day in the absence of an action plan to regulate traffic as well as parking lots outside the footbridge.
Otherwise, just consider this: Dozens of auto rickshaws and motorcycle pilots operating from the Aquem side have no stand worth its name, literally forcing them to park their vehicles right outside the footbridge. There’s no parking area for visitors to the station, leaving them with no option than to park their two-wheelers along the road side. And, not to mention of the private tourist taxis often found parked near the area adjoining the fire station.
The presence of over half-a-dozen gaddas, dotting along the retaining wall of the railway station, with a couple of them dealing with fast food, have raised many an eyebrows. Complaints are galore that the Margao Municipal Council has turned a blind eye to these gaddas vis-a-vis encroachments and waste disposal. That the area is a neglected lot is evident by the fact that a high mast lamp, erected to illuminate the congested area, is awaiting commissioning for over a month now.
The KRC has washed its hands off of the messy situation outside the footbridge, saying the responsibility for regulating traffic and parking needs on the Aquem footbridge side of the station rests with the State government. “We have no role to play outside the footbridge. The KRC had asked for transfer of land admeasuring 4000 sq mts to develop the area into a parking lot and to lay another line. Our request has so far not found favour with the state government”, informed KRC Sr Public Relations Manager, Baban Ghatge.
Herald inquiries have revealed that a master plan for the area is still at the planning stage of the government, notwithstanding that the station was thrown open for rail traffic 15 years ago. Successive governments too have failed to pay any attention to spruce up the area and meet the growing requirements. Says Margao MLA Digambar Kamat: “Senior Town Planner James Mathew is presently working out to put a plan in place to regulate the activities outside the footbridge. We have told the Chief Conservator of Forests to take up development of the garden on the acquired land. Once the master plan is ready and approved, things should hopefully fall in place”.
With successive governments only paying lip service to the urgent need to regulate and decongest the area, Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik has now offered to chip in funds from the MPLAD scheme to spruce up the area. “I am ready to sanction Rs 20 lakh and more to beautify the area with parking and other arrangements, including sanitation. I have called for a detailed proposal from the authorities concerned,” Shantaram added.
Local Margao municipal ward councillor Sangeeta Naik said the area has been craving for attention from both the government and the civic body. “You will not believe that even liquor bottles and cigarette butts land right in the premises of the nearby school, located a few meters away from the station. We now plan to secure the school premise to stop anti-socials from using the open place for their nefarious activities,” Sangeeta added.
