Team Herald
PANJIM: The feast of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa will be held on December 3, and Novenas will be held from November 24, to December 2.
As the Feast and Novenas attract a large number of devotees, traffic arrangements have been made, to avoid inconvenience.
On the route from Panjim to Old Goa via Ribandar, there will be special buses to ferry passengers. The special buses from Panjim to Old Goa will proceed via Ribandar and on reaching Dempo Engineering at Old Goa, will take left turn to enter the Bhakia Property for parking at Bhakia bus stand.
The two-wheelers and four-wheelers, on reaching Dempo Engineering at Old Goa will take left turn to enter Bhakia property for parking. Vehicles having VIP car pass will be allowed to come up to the entry road and will be parked in VIP parking lot.
The vehicles carrying disabled persons will be allowed to come up to Old Goa Church junction and park their vehicles in the open space opposite Sulabh Sauchalaya near Old Goa Panchayat.
The vehicles parked in Bhakia property and in the open space opposite Sulabh Sauchalaya near Old Goa Panchayat on their return journey to Panjim, will take the same route via Ribandar.
On route from Panjim to Old Goa via Kadamba bypass Panjim to Ponda route buses will not be allowed to proceed via Ribandar. Instead, they will be diverted at KTC circle to proceed via Kadamba bypass (NH-4A). The two-wheelers and four-wheelers on reaching Kamat Gas Station junction will take left turn towards Santa Monica Nursery and on reaching at St Augustine Tower junction will take further left turn and on reaching Habitat junction will take right turn and on reaching Dempo Engineering will take left turn to enter Bhakia property for parking.
All heavy and medium vehicles will be diverted via Kadamba bypass NH-4A. The new road connecting Kadamba bypass to Santan Church will be one-way from Kadamba bypass towards Santan.
Similarly, it will be ‘No Entry’ for medium and heavy vehicles from both sides, that is, from Santan Church and from Kadamba bypass. On Saturday, Sunday and on the Feast Day, heavy and medium goods vehicles wanting to proceed via Old Goa will be diverted at Karaswada Junction on NH-17 and at Banastarim Junction on NH-4A to proceed via Amona Bridge.
The road from Pilar to Old Goa will be made one-way for the movement of traffic. No vehicle from Old Goa will be allowed to return via Neura. All vehicles shall exit via NH-4A at Merces or light vehicles can exit via new road to Santan Church.
Four-wheelers from South Goa will be allowed to come up to Ella Farm gate and will park in the Ella Farm field, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Service open space. Two-wheelers will be parked in the private property before Neura junction and in the parking lots behind the Bom Jesus of Basilica. Buses coming from South Goa via Neura road on reaching Ella Farm main gate will take left turn and come to bus stand at Kunkolkar School ground and will exit on NH-4A for onward journey.
Arrangement for vehicles commuting from Ponda: two-wheelers and four-wheelers coming from Ponda side on reaching near Pinto Garage will take left turn for parking at the ground behind Pinto Garage. For return journey, the two wheelers and four wheelers will take the same route to go towards Ponda.
The normal traffic from Ponda wanting to go to Panjim on reaching near Dargah junction at Old Goa will take Kadamba bypass (NH-4A). Ponda to Panjim route buses will not be allowed to proceed via Old Goa Church complex. Instead, they will be diverted at Neura Junction to proceed via Kadamba bypass (NH-4A).
Vehicles desiring to proceed towards Gaundalim are advised to proceed via Banastarim and avoid Old Goa. Heavy vehicles coming from Ponda side will be diverted at Banastarim Junction via Amona Bridge to join NH-17 at Karaswada. The stretch of road between Old Goa Police Station to Church junction via MLA Pandurang Madkaikar’s house will be made one-way. No vehicle from Church junction will be allowed to take right turn to reach Old Goa Police Station via MLA Pandurang Madkaikar’s house.
The vehicles coming from Diwar to Old Goa will proceed via Viceroy’s Arch and will be parked in the courtyard of St Cajeton Church.
