Traffic SP wants MMC to go for pay parking in Vasco

VASCO: After Mormugao Municipal Council failed to introduce pay parking at various stretches of the roads in Vasco town, the State traffic police have decided to take the issue forward to its logical conclusion. New Traffic SP Dinraj Govekar said that traffic police would send a proposal for implementation of pay parking in the Vasco city.

He was speaking to reporters after holding a meeting with officers of Vasco and Dabolim traffic cell staff at Vasco traffic cell on Monday. DySP Traffic Prabodh Shirvoikar, PI Traffic cell Roy Pereira and members of Airport Taxi union and other traffic policemen attended the meeting. 

Issues such as congestion in Vasco city, parking indiscipline, pending notification on traffic signage, traffic congestion at Dabolim airport, illegal taxi operations at airport, illegal parking of vehicles on the NH17-B road opposite airport terminal building were discussed during the meeting.

“It is true that the scenario of traffic indiscipline is becoming worse day-by-day and thus there is need to impose pay parking at various important places in Vasco,” Govekar said.

He said that during the meeting he learnt that the city faced another problem wherein many vehicle owners who work in other cities park their vehicles in front of government offices and other important parking places thereby blocking the prime parking slots. 

Similarly, he said, the taxi drivers also block such prime parking slots especially the parking place opposite to Municipal building. 

“Hence, I have issued directions to PI Traffic Vasco to immediately send a proposal to MMC for the implementation of pay parking at some prime parking slots in Vasco on priority. Also, if possible we would also ask the MMC to reduce the width of footpath opposite to MMC building for making provisions for two wheeler parking,” he said.

Govekar said that since the traffic congestion in the city is increasing, traffic police would also propose to shift city bus operations to KTC bus stand after the ongoing work on new KTC bus terminal is completed. 

“We are thinking of shifting all the city buses to KTC bus stand once the development works at the bus stand completed. In future, city and intercity buses can be allowed to halt only to pick or drop passengers in the city but all operations will be from KTC bus stand,” he said.