Vehicles clog Margao roads as town runs out of parking spaces

MARGAO: With the rise in the population of vehicles in Salcete, parking has become a major problem in Margao town, with no solution in sight. Vehicles can be seen parked illegally in the heart of the town, outside New Market, Gandhi Market, and shopping complexes around the old bus stand.

The Margao Traffic Cell has sent letters to the Margao Municipal Council over the insufficient parking areas available for light vehicles and scooters in various parts of the town, requesting the allocation of extra areas to accommodate more vehicles.

Vehicle owners allege that civic authorities and other concerned bodies have failed to provide sufficient parking spaces, forcing them to often park their vehicles at the main entrance of markets, shopping complexes, and other available spaces, including no-parking areas. As a result, they are frequently fined by traffic police for violating the Motor Vehicles Act. Every day, over 100 people are fined for parking their cars or scooters in no-parking areas, and light vehicles found parked in these areas are also fined.

Motorists allege that the civic body and traffic police have made announcements about providing parking lots, but no parking lots have been provided in the last five years.

Sandeep Pednekar, a Margao resident, said that the parking problem has reached alarming proportions and that the traffic police are helpless and unable to keep check on the traffic congestion.

Another resident, Milind Raiker, alleged that the district administration has put up ‘no parking’ sign boards on the majority of roads in the heart of the town, leaving no place for vehicle owners to park their vehicles. “Vehicles, including heavy vehicles, are choking roads. Vehicles are often seen parked on the roadsides outside most apartments and housing complexes, leading to heavy traffic congestion,” he added.

Michael De Souza, a resident of Quepem, said, “Each day, thousands of people visit Margao to make purchases. People have no choice but to park their vehicles on the roadsides when they come for work. The most congested areas in Margao are Station Road, Cine Lata area, area near Telephone Exchange, the area near former Madgaum Urban Bank, area near Lohia Chowk, area near Borker Superstores, area near Salcete Pharmacy, and the area near Bombay Cafe.