Goemkarponn desk
MARGAO: During the high-level meeting chaired by Additional Collector Srinet Kotwale, various critical issues concerning traffic and parking in the heart of Margao town were discussed. The meeting focused on implementing both temporary and permanent measures to ease traffic congestion during peak school hours. Attendees included Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, stakeholders, and officials from various agencies such as RTO, Traffic police, and Margao Municipality, along with representatives from Loyola High School and Fatima Convent School.
One major point of discussion was the traffic management plan for the city centre, particularly around the schools. A collaborative effort between the Traffic police, school representatives, and stakeholders is proposed to draft a tentative traffic management plan, which will be presented to the PTAs of the schools by June 25. It is suggested to implement the plan on a trial basis for four days after discussing it with the stakeholders.
A surprising proposal brought forward during the meeting was the de-notification of the old bus stand in Margao due to its current utilization as a parking space for buses. The meeting recommended not renewing permits for vehicles operating from the old bus stand and suggested seeking space at the KTC bus stand for buses currently operating from the old bus stand.
The meeting also aimed to address issues related to congested areas and traffic bottlenecks during peak school hours, emphasizing the need to find effective solutions for the prevailing traffic challenges in the town centre.
Gaddas and scrap: The meeting resolved that all accident vehicles and scrap material, besides movable carts/gaddas, will be removed from the Old Bus Stand by June 22. The fast food carts will be told to report at the Old Bus Stand at 6 pm and wind up business by 11 pm as per the license conditions.
It has been decided that the gaddas should be parked at the Old Bus Stand after business hours from 11 pm to 6 am. In a bid to enforce the decision, the Margao Municipal Council has been told to install the entry and exit gates at the Old Bus Stand in consultation with traffic police.
Temporary parking: The meeting has decided to permit temporary parking during school hours from 7.30 am to 8 am and 12 noon to 2 pm from the Margao police station to the Loyola High School.
No U-turn at the Comba sub-way: The meeting also deliberated on the acute traffic congestion in and around the Comba subway. One of the causes identified behind the traffic congestion was the u-turn taken by motorists after coming out of the subway to head to the Old market road.
It has been decided not to allow u-turn for the traffic coming out of the subway.
Sadly, the traffic authorities led by DySP Prabodh Shirwaikar nor the PWD, Roads led by Executive Engineer Swapnil Desai did not raise the issue of the gaddas blocking traffic near the Comba railway crossing when the kiosks are operating from the PWD acquired road widening area.
Children Safety Committee in the schools: The meeting decided to activate the Children safety committee in the schools. In this respect, a decision has been taken that the Deputy Director of Education South Zone and School Managements and PTAs ensure that the Children Safety Committee in the schools are duly constituted in all schools in Margao and their meetings are held regularly and details of the same are shared to the concerned authorities.
