Civic body all set to introduce pay parking system in Margao

ROQUE DIAS | NT
MARGAO
Margao Municipal Council (MMC) is all set to introduce the much-needed pay parking system in the commercial capital of Goa – Margao.
Twenty-nine places around MMC building and new market areas will be notified for implementing the pay parking within a month. The chief officer Y B Tavde informed, on Thursday, that the process will be completed within a month as the council has accepted the proposal of introducing the pay parking system forwarded by the traffic cell.
The council during the last meeting had collectively resolved to implement pay parking system in the prime places of the town, even though the residents had earlier opposed it for various reasons including lack of signages.
“Pay parking system will be introduced in the prime land, opposite the KTC, and the land behind the MMC building. We will be starting it with the nominal fees for the first three hours. We will provide signboards to traffic cell within the next three days to alert the motorists. A meeting will be held with the stakeholders and the councillors before introducing the pay parking system,” Tavde said.
He said that the KTC has already introduced the pay parking system. “MMC has a prime developed land opposite the KTC. We intend to use it and rake in revenue. This will also help to bring in traffic discipline in the commercial town,” he said.
Sources informed that the traffic cell has forwarded pay parking proposal again this year with the sole aim of streamlining the parking system, to create a place for the visitors to park their vehicles.
Previously, the proposal was forwarded in the year 2009 and the year 2014, the sources added.
As per the traffic cell proposal, the roads near Caro Centre, Bank of Baroda, near Syndicate Bank, new market roads, near Hotel Woodland, around MMC building are proposed for the implementation of the pay parking system.
“Pay parking system is absolutely required for Margao. You see rest of the towns have already introduced it. It helps to put traffic in place. I am glad that the MMC has accepted our proposal and they are going ahead with it. We can create space for alteast 250 two-wheelers and nearly 100 cars,” said the DySP, traffic, Prabhod Shirvaikar
The acting chairperson Doris Teixeira said that the council has collectively resolved to go ahead with the introduction of the pay parking system in Margao.
“Currently, the way vehicles are being parked, is without any traffic discipline. The sole intention is not only to generate revenue, but also to put a system in place,” she added.
Fifteen years ago, when the civic body tried to introduce pay parking in Margao, there was a stiff opposition from all quarters.