Team Herald
MARGAO: Citizens and stakeholders have once again pressed the authorities and the Margao Municipality regarding the long-delayed multi-level pay parking project. Initiated in 2015, the project has seen no substantial progress almost a decade later.
Citizens are growing increasingly impatient and concerned about the continuing parking issues that could have been mitigated by now. There are mounting calls for the authorities to provide a clear timeline and actionable plans to expedite the project’s completion.
They argue that the parking issues in the commercial town of Margao could have been resolved if the project had been completed as planned. It is pertinent to note that Margao is currently experiencing significant difficulties due to the lack of a dedicated parking area, leading to major inconvenience for commuters and visitors entering the town.
The absence of adequate parking worsens traffic congestion and affects local businesses. Citizens are urging the authorities to prioritize the project and address the pressing parking problems affecting the city’s daily operations.
“After the foundation stone was laid in 2015, the MMC finally tendered the project two years later,” said Levison Dias, a Margao citizen. “However, the plan was abandoned following the introduction of the GST regime, and since then, there has been no sign of progress,” he said.
According to reliable sources, the revised plan for the multi-level parking project is still awaiting administrative approval from the government. The updated plan notably excludes the previously discussed feature of incorporating a restaurant on the top floor of the building.
“The revised plan has been forwarded to the Directorate of Municipal Administration, and we are awaiting government approval,” sources confirmed. Previously, the Margao Municipal Council faced difficulties attracting contractors for the project, which led to significant delays and the abandonment of the file. The revised plan allocates the ground floor for 137 two-wheelers and the remaining four floors for 70 four-wheelers, with the fifth floor remaining unused.
After receiving approval from the South Goa Planning and Development Authority, the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) is poised to oversee the project’s completion, pending final administrative approval from the government.
When contacted, Damodar Shirodkar, Chairperson of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC), stated that he will follow up with the concerned authorities to expedite the process.