The Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) announced its plan to introduce a Pay Parking system in the city starting from next month. Chairperson Ritesh Naik shared this development following the monthly council meeting.
Under the proposed Pay Parking system, bike parking will be charged at Rs 5 for the first hour and an additional Rs 5 for subsequent hours. Similarly, car parking will incur a charge of Rs 10 for the initial hour and an extra Rs 10 for each subsequent hour. The decision, discussed with traffic police, RTO, and the Deputy Collector, aims to streamline traffic congestion, discourage haphazard parking, free up prime spaces occupied for extended periods, and facilitate smoother traffic movement within the city.
Identifying specific areas in the city for the Pay Parking system, Naik mentioned Maruti Temple to Old Bus Stand (Indira Market) and the stretch from the Court Building at Tisk Ponda to Upper Bazaar road. Before implementation, these areas will be officially notified, pay parking tenders will be invited, signboards will be displayed, and terms and conditions will be formulated based on the study of similar systems in Panajim and Curchorem.
Additionally, the PMC has decided to cancel the allotment of nine shops at Indira Market, Ponda, citing violations in the auctioning process. Naik revealed that the auctioning process had seen violations, with instances where only two bidders, having a blood relation, participated, and one of them successfully secured a shop.
Considering this as a legal violation, the Council has opted to cancel the auction, refund the money, and conduct a re-auction of the shops. Despite having received DMA approval two years ago, the decision reflects the PMC's commitment to upholding transparency and fairness in its procedures.