-- Samir Umarye Bicholim: Bicholim has been facing traffic problems for the past several years including a lack of adequate parking spaces and no proper signboards. The failure in implementing the designated traffic plan initiated on trial basis by the BMC chairperson Karuna Govenkar and other councillors has resulted in haphazard parkings.
The ex-deputy collector Biju Naik had taken keen interest to improve traffic system in the town. The spots for one way traffic, no entry, no parking were identified and accordingly sign boards were installed. The traffic police took the matter seriously for implementation but within a weed the rules were forgotten. The councillors had not taken the issue seriously despite residents who had to undergo a lot of hard ship. The main area to be identified is parking space for two wheelers, four wheelers, motorcycles, pick-up tempos and auto rickshaws. The auto rickshaws and motorbike pilots have been allotted space at the KTC bus stand which lacks sufficient space for parking of buses. This results in traffic chaos at the entry and exit points of the bus stand. The designated parkings are not identified, however some spots near the town centre building, new market complex, near Goa Bagayatdar bazaar are marked for parking vehicles. However the space being inadequate and narrow roads have resulted in traffic blockages. The union government had sanctioned funds for widening of roads in the town. The funds were utilised by the Bicholim Municipal Council (BMC) for parking of two and four wheelers. However, the insufficient width on the roads has resulted in traffic chaos. During the Bazaar day, most vehicles are parked in a haphazard manner and a police constable along with home guard stationed in the market find it virtually impossible to manage the area. Another decision of the council to allot space for some of the vendors in front of BMC new market complex which is reserved for parking of vehicles has ruined the basic purpose of providing parking facility for people visiting the market for purchases. The issue of stray animals in Bicholim causing traffic blockades and accidents on the road and highway is turning worse by the day due to the lackadaisical attitude of the administration towards the issue. The council has failed to take any measures against the stray cattle menace in the town. A source has said that the BMC must cooperate with traffic and police officials for strict implementation of the traffic plan. Residents of the town should also obey the traffic rules for smooth flow of traffic. Vishwanath Dhawaskar, a cloth merchant said that the council members have a biased attitude which has resulted in vendors using the open space besides encroachments. He said that to get rid of such corrupt practices residents must vote for sincere and capable candidates in the Bicholim municipal elections.[NT]
