Goa needs parking plans before growing vehicle numbers overwhelm its towns
The construction of Goa’s first hydraulically operated multi-level car park facility will begin in Margao today. Estimated to cost Rs 7.5 crore, the project will accommodate 70 cars and approximately 35 two-wheelers. Like other towns, Margao badly needs a multi-level parking facility. Eleven years ago, the foundation stone was laid for a parking project by the Margao Municipal Council, but it had a long and troubled history. PWD Minister and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat clarified that the new project is different from the one initiated in 2015.
Once completed, the facility will provide relief to motorists who presently struggle to find parking in the town. The number of vehicles has steadily increased over the past decade, putting pressure on land resources and urban administrations across the state to provide such infrastructure. Most towns have failed to execute these projects. Some may say they initiated such projects, but for one reason or another, they got stuck. Traffic police are helpless in managing traffic when there are inadequate parking facilities. The capital city, Panaji, as well as Mapusa, Vasco, Ponda and Margao, are all facing the same problem.
Our leaders often say Goa could be a model for other states. On the contrary, it is high time we learnt from other states to find a solution to the parking problem. Whenever space is available, we have used it for a different purpose, more often for commercial purposes than in the public interest. “Nation first” seems to be only a political slogan for most of our politicians.
Poor public transport, or the lack of it, has compelled citizens to buy vehicles, increasing their numbers to the point that Goa today has the highest car density in the country. However, our leaders never anticipated the need for adequate parking facilities. A couple of Asian countries anticipated the problem well in advance and took steps to prevent the situation we are facing.
Singapore developed a top-class public transport system, making car ownership unnecessary for many. It also has strict criteria for car ownership. The main objective was to manage severe land constraints and prevent traffic gridlock. Here, when we see chaos on the roads, we build flyovers. But our planning is such that once a project is completed, it creates new problems. If it is worthwhile, we squabble over who deserves the credit.
Like Goa, Singapore is land-scarce. It therefore seeks to minimise surface-level roads. At the same time, its long-term focus is on underground infrastructure and smart technologies. In the late 1990s, the Pratapsing Rane government did try to study Singapore’s economic model, including its approaches to tourism and infrastructure. There was also a Central government proposal for a “free port”. On this, he was against adopting the Singapore model for Goa.
This does not mean that we must simply copy other models of economic growth. What is required is a debate on the kind of development Goa needs over the next 25 years. For this, we should not forget to involve young people in the process of developing ideas.
The multi-level car park facility in Margao is certainly a welcome development. What matters is not only completing it on time but also ensuring its maintenance and proper operation. The Mapusa MLA has been pushing for a multi-level parking facility at the KTC bus stand since 2021. However, there seems to be no government support for the project. Besides Mapusa, other towns and the state capital also need such facilities. Why the government has not treated this as a priority is not known.
