PANAJI: In a bid to ensure that large sections of prime parking space in the city are not occupied by commercial establishments to the detriment of citizens, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has approved a proposal to introduce pay parking on certain streets in the city.

During a discussion on the proposal at the CCP councillors meeting, city commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues said the proposal had been mooted with an aim to bring about some “discipline in parking” in the city.

Rodrigues stated that there were several areas in the city where
commercial businesses such as tourist taxis, delivery vehicles and
rent-a-bikes were occupying prime parking space.

“Each
car-rental (and taxi) operator is bringing more and more cars (near the
ferry wharf) preventing anybody else from using the parking space. A
pizza company has 20 delivery vehicles. The yellow number plate bikes
are occupying parking spaces outside shops in the city and near the post
office,” he said.

This is private parking which is occupying
space that could be used by citizens, he said. He estimated that around
200 such commercial vehicles were occupying parking space.

Some
of the areas where the pay parking has been proposed are sections of
18{+t}{+h} June road, road near Don Bosco campus’s rear gate, road
behind Inox, roads around the Panaji municipal garden and road behind
the old secretariat.

The meeting also discussed the steps taken
by the CCP to streamline the corporation’s accounting procedures. This
will enable the corporation to eventually move towards a double
accounting system which is necessary to avail of central grants and
ensure that funds are not misused.

The commissioner revealed
that separate accounts have now been opened as earlier deposits and
withdrawal of money was done “from the same kitty”.CCP has also
approved a proposal to grant CCP staff a golden jubilee bonus of 5,000
which will cost the CCP over 19 lakh. Sources said the CCP currently has
a deficit of 20 crore.