Will the Panaji’s businessmen shake the Hand and trade the Lotus today?

PANAJI: The state capital never enjoyed the ‘commercial hub’ tag that Mapusa or Margao came to be known for, but Panaji has a strong business community.
With around 3,000 votes, every political party has wooed this vital segment of the city, not just for votes, but also for the influence they wield.
Traditionally, the state capital’s businessmen invested their vote in the Lotus largely because of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar.His ability to sort out bureaucratic niggles and his vision for the city helped him win over this significant part of Panaji. But after Parrikar’s passing, there is a new sales pitch for Sunday’s byelection.
For Panaji’s core business district, the needs are simple. Smooth roads, efficient traffic management, adequate parking and proper garbage collection. A modern, hygienic municipal market with parking for consumers and traders is also needed, entrepreneurs said.
The city’s businessmen comprise local entrepreneurs, Gujaratis, Sindhis and Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, all of who have been long-time Panaji voters. Given that they all interact with the state government and the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), synergy between the political leadership and the civic body is sorely desired.
“People are talking about what is happening in Taleigao and they feel there is a good chance that, if Congress candidate Atanasio Monserrate is elected, he may well address some of these issues,” a local cashew retailer said.
However, not all traders are convinced about Monserrate’s ability to deliver. Monserrate, or Babush as he is popularly called, has a hold over CCP through his councillors.
“The Panaji MLA was from one party, while the mayor was from another. In this clash of egos, CCP has failed to execute basic tasks like door-to-door collection of garbage,” the owner of a popular tea joint said. “There must be a system to ensure that even if the next MLA and mayor are from opposing parties, civic duties are not ignored.”
Many businessmen have clashed with CCP, sometimes over garbage collection, at other times over parking management and taxation. For Ravindranath Kamat, the proprietor of Cafe Cream Centre, absence of an efficient public transport system is a sore point. Despite Parrikar’s push for pedestrianisation and better traffic management, nothing much has changed.
“Footpaths and spaces outside shops have been encroached by hawkers. I have fought two such cases in court over 7 years,” clothing store owner Mohammad Sayed said.
Each party has promised to improve the quality of road infrastructure and provide multilevel parking facilities in the state capital, but for local computer dealer Mandar Manjrekar lack of parking is an artificial problem.
He said most vehicles parked in the city are either tourist taxis or vehicles driven by businessmen themselves, who come to work.
“Free, on-street parking is meant for either shoppers or people who come to the city to get some work done and who leave in an hour or two,” Manjrekar said.