Ponjekars decry Smart City suggestions for pay parking

PANAJI: Traffic congestion and parking woes in Panaji are not due to the vehicles owned the residents, but owing to the buildup of taxis, buses and rented tourist vehicles, said citizens speaking at the public consultation engagement by the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) held at the Adil Shah Palace, on Friday.

The statement was triggered after Smart City officials suggested exorbitant fees for pay parking in Panaji, for both residents and visitors.Moreover, the amount to be charged as parking fee varied from location to location, based on the commercial popularity of the place.
“The pay parking policy is a punishment for Panaji residents as they do not own so many vehicles. It is the increasing density of vehicles in the city due to government and tourist vehicles that is causing the problem. The IPSCDL needs to form a mobility plan before imposing a parking fee on us,” an attendee said.
Citizens also demanded that casinos be done away with from the river Mandovi to ensure the smooth flow of traffic on DB road. “Outstation tourists visiting the casinos in their private vehicles as well as tourist taxis often park haphazardly,” they said.
At the public consultation engagement, the IPSCDL presented a draft parking policy in Panaji. Public opinion was sought on eight parking policies including street parking management, off-street parking management, building regulations, parking permits (work and residential), proof of parking, new mobility, use of technology and parking enforcement.
The IPSCDL also suggested a push-and-pull approach wherein the use of private vehicles will be discouraged so they can be pushed out, but only once an attractive and efficient public transport system is put in place that will pull in more users. Incentives will also be given to owners of electric vehicles such as a discount of upto 60% in parking fees for the first five years.
The master plan of the parking policy in Panaji will be prepared in a months’ time.
It will incorporate the suggestions and feedback of the public who attended the discourse.