Panjim, the capital city of Goa, has a major problem with parking as the roads are too narrow for the high volume of vehicles entering the city each day. With around 90,000 vehicles and no multi-level parking structures, it is very difficult to find available street parking. Several potential solutions have been proposed, including pay parking lots, centralized parking facilities with shuttles, and building more multi-level parking structures. However, implementing permanent solutions has proven difficult due to opposition from local businesses and residents. The parking and traffic issues in Panjim continue to be a challenge with no definitive resolution in sight.

1. Have you ever driven around Panjim city in search of Parking ?
Not having found parking, have you then gone around the city another time
anxiously looking meticulously for parking ?
Having been unsuccessful and much to your disappointment and frustration you
now drive away , to find parking a long distance away . Oh what luck !
TMOD, fellow TMs, Guests, Ladies & Gentlemen.
So many of us have had this experience.
As for me, I whisper a small prayer to God hoping a miracle awaits me.
Panjim , the capital city of Goa was planned by the Portuguese in the late 19th
Century. In this small city , the width of the roads can hardly cater to todays local
vehicle population. Moreover, the 2 and 4 wheeler roadside parking as well as
the tourist influx has the roads clogged with traffic. inching one behind the other.
With poor public transport and affluence, Privately owned vehicular traffic has
been rising exponentially in Goa . The problem is further compounded with the
corresponding infrastructure having failed to keep pace. The Town and Country
laws have not provided for adequate off street parking in commercial buildings
and housing complexes thus vehicles occupy every inch of on street parking.
In a recent study done by the traffic police, around 90,000 vehicles enter Panjim
city daily. Panjim city does not yet have a multi story parking . No wonder there
are frequent traffic jams on the arterial roads in the Central Business District.
I went to meet the City Mayor Mr Surendra Furtado. His Solution to the problem
is to convert the Central Business District into Pay Parking. Parking woes have
been adequately addressed on implementing Pay parking in the Patto Area he
says. This move is being opposed by the local shopkeepers and Panjim residents.

2. But no Capital city in the world has Free parking says another city father . Mega
Cities in our neighborhoods, Mumbai , Poona and Bangalore have several
designated paid parking multi storied Buildings . Panjim city is yet to have one.
Architect Arminho Ribeiro of the Charles Correa Foundation is of the opinion that
Panjim was never designed for such massive traffic and consequent street
parking. The Central Business District of Panjim is small enough to be a Pedestrian
city. Space has been identified for 4 multi story parking lots across the city.
More recently LKS Consultants, a Consultancy firm appointed for the
beautification and development of Panaji, has proposed centralized parking
to serve residents and visitors to Panaji. In fact, four parking lots have been
identified. People will have to park their cars at the parking lots. They will
then avail of the city bus loop system. City buses will go round the city
picking up and dropping passengers at different points of their choice
without the people having to get their cars into the city. This will greatly
reduce vehicles in the city,
In a letter to the Editors that appeared in the Herald on 8th October Mr Allwyn Dsa
states
By Alwyn M. D’Sa, Miramar | 08 Oct, 2014, 12:51AM IST
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It should be clear to everyone that no city in the world, save alone a Capital city gives free access to people to park
their vehicles in the public places. In some countries parking may cost more than Rs 1,000 per hour besides other
restrictions for entering the city limits and as such the meagre parking charges imposed by the CCP should be
willingly accepted by everyone for a more disciplined system and also to add revenue in the cash starved CCP
coffers. Exceptions may be made to residents in the City’s old buildings who should be given free parking spaces.
But what is not acceptable is giving construction licenses for all new or reconstructed buildings in the city which do
not provide underground or stilt parking for its residents. If this ban was implemented ten years ago we would not be
facing such severe parking problems in the city today. Besides, all vehicles parked in non-parking areas specially on
road turnings, improperly parked vehicles, etc. should be towed away and owners heavily fined.

3. “We are taking several measures in an attempt to improve the traffic scenario in
Panaji. We have decided to make several key areas in the city into pay parking. In
this direction the district collector has already notified certain areas in the city as
pay parking,” said Sanjit Rodrigues Commissioner of CCP. “We are in the process
of formulating guidelines to tender the pay parking proposal and get a good service
provider. We are also working on other aspects like one way streets and proper
multilevel parking and has received the cooperation and support to put a system in
place,” the Commissioner added.
People are forced to go in circles to park their vehicles,” said Surendra Furtado,
the Mayor of CCP. “In Patto Plaza, we have seen the impact of elaborate
parking system, with parking attendants guiding the motorists and charging
appropriate fees. We will implement the same system in the city and the rates
charged will be the same as those charged in Patto, on an hourly basis,” the
mayor added further.
Will all the various solutions proposed by the authorities that matter, ever see
the light of Day ?
Will our Panjim city parking woes ever find a solution in the near future ?
Man proposes and God disposes is a common saying.
Till then every time I’m looking for parking in Panjim , I continue to whisper a
small prayer to God to find me a parking slot.