from Lenny Barretto
for Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB)

Panaji, Jun 30: This is something which City of Corporation of Panaji (CCP) will have to reply to every biker and driver.

While the Goa traffic police in association with CCP is prompt enough to lift the two-wheelers and cars parked in no parking zone, the parking spaces are being encroached upon by the CCP's works. Although it is raining in Goa, the CCP is yet to finish their work. They are continuing with pre-monsoon works during monsoons and going by their track record, the works will continue even after monsoons.

A view of Panaji market where parking space is being occupied by civil work by CCP (Pic Lenny Barretto) 

In the bargain, parking spaces which are meant for parking cars or scooters are getting scarcer. For instance, when a drainage is being dug in Panaji market, the related work eats into all the parking space. So the people have to look out for other options, forcing them to park their vehicles in' no parking' zones.

The tall claims by traffic police and the CCP about being people-friendly comes crashing down if one visits Panaji market. While on one side CCP curtails the parking spaces, the same CCP and traffic police picks up the vehicles. The vehicles are returned only after shelling out a huge amount of Rs 300 per bike and something like Rs 500 for a car.

Why should people pay for the mistake of the CCP? It is well within our civic rights to have parking spaces in the city. Can the CCP Mayor Tony Rodrigues or for that instance traffic police superintendent of police Atmaram Deshpande tell the people how many new parking spaces are created every year? If they don't create a single parking space than they should also go around the city and see how many parking spaces are being destroyed every year.

Even after the civil work is over the cement or construction material lies pending on the road. Where should people park their bike or car?

Goans have much better traffic sense. We all are educated people. But what should the person do when he is forced to violate the rule by authorities themselves... Can traffic police reply to this? Can CCP do something?