NT Reporter
Ponda
The Public Works Department (PWD) is transforming the space beneath the Curti bypass flyover into a public utility, in a first-of-its-kind project for Goa.
The initiative aims to ease urban parking congestion and sanitation issues by repurposing 6,600sqm of underutilised space.
The project includes a pay-and-park facility for two- and four-wheelers, spread across 11 designated blocks of about 600 sqm each.
PWD has already spent
Rs 1.5 crore on the parking facility, where rates will match those set by Ponda municipality.
A major component is a nine-block community toilet complex being constructed at an additional cost of Rs 73 lakh. The toilet facility will have its own sewage treatment system and will be managed by Sulabh International, known for its work in public sanitation.
PWD officials, however, said the parking space has already been occupied by unauthorised vehicles, including heavy trucks, delaying the official launch.
Engineer Anand Vagurmekar said the department has written to the Traffic Police to clear the area, but no action has been taken.
“This is a prime example of the PWD’s commitment to developing smart, cost-effective, and sustainable urban infrastructure by repurposing existing government land for public welfare,” Vagurmekar said.
He added that the project is about more than parking, as it showcases how urban spaces can be leveraged to serve the community and provide a model for future development across Goa.
