Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: In a bid to restore order and ensure public safety, several businesses in Panaji have come together to address the growing concern of unauthorized stalls and parked vehicles obstructing footpaths.
This issue not only hampers the free movement of pedestrians but also affects the operations of legal businesses in the area.
On February 12, 2025, a letter was submitted to the Commissioner of the Corporation of the City of Panaji, the Superintendent of Police, the Traffic Cell, and the Police Inspector, Panaji Police Station.
The letter, signed by S. K. Adani of Adani Ventures, along with other proprietors of shoe stores in Panaji, highlights the nuisance caused by individuals and stallers selling goods on footpaths without permission.
These activities are reported to occur near prominent locations such as M. G. Road, Mandovi Road, and Panaji Residency.
The letter emphasizes that these unauthorized businesses not only obstruct public movement but also operate without necessary licenses or permissions from local authorities.
It further notes that this illegal activity negatively impacts the legal businesses in the area, which pay all required taxes and operate with proper licenses.
As stated in the letter, “The business carried out on the footpaths/footways, obstructs the free movement of the public.” The proprietors have requested swift action against these unauthorized vendors, citing the detrimental effects on public transport and the overall business environment.
This issue is part of a broader challenge faced by urban areas in Goa, where encroachments and unauthorized activities often lead to public inconvenience and safety risks.
Similar concerns have been raised in other parts of Goa, such as Old Goa, where the Human Rights Commission has ordered action against illegal stalls on footpaths. Additionally, issues like the construction of bridges and other infrastructure projects have raised environmental and legal concerns, as seen in the case of the Panaji bridge project.
