Team Herald
MARGAO: For nearly two years, Margao, the commercial capital of Goa did not see the rush of parents dropping and picking their children as the schools had been completely closed for almost two year due to COVID-19 lockdowns. Although there was still a lot of traffic congestion, since schools reopened there has been a massive increase in volume of traffic and the peak hours are now synonymous with traffic jams.
The parents have rued the fact that there could have been greater planning given that the authorities were aware of the kind of traffic problems that would be there once schools reopen and taken steps to address this issue.
This issue also comes against the backdrop of two decade-old projects that are yet to be implemented.
The first is the proposed ultra modern KTC Bus Stand that is to be taken by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC). The foundation stone was placed in June 2011 but the project, estimated to be worth Rs 350 crore, has failed to take off since then and has seen failed moves by consecutive governments to revive the ambitious project.
Similarly, the proposed multi-level pay parking project of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has not seen any development even though the foundation stone was laid in the year 2015. This project, estimated to be worth Rs 7 crore is also being taken up by GSIDC but despite multiple attempts, even one recently to invite bidders for the project, there hasn’t been any takers as yet.
Incidentally, it is not just the parents but the residents, businessmen and daily commuters who have also been demanding for better parking facilities in Margao, which would help decongest the traffic in the town.
Questions have been raised whether these projects will move from being just a promise and become a reality during the tenure of the next government, given that it did not happen during the tenures of past consecutive governments.
