Parking area in Panjim draft master plan raises eyebrows (Herald)

Parking area in Panjim draft master plan raises eyebrows August 10, 2013 TEAM HERALD PANJIM: Parking is a huge problem in Panjim but is the proposal by the consultants appointed by the government, more specifically by the Goa State Industrial Development Corporation, to create underground parking under the football ground within the police headquarters complex the right solution? A map of the proposed parking available in the draft master plan has clearly shown that the whole of the police headquarters marked in red, and designated as parking. Official sources said that this is not the right picture, as it were, but said the plan is to have underground parking under the police headquarters complex's football ground, which was probably the first such facility in the city. That parking according to this proposal will be bang under the heritage building complex of Goa's PHQ, a massive load bearing structure that stands atop sewage drains and storm drains a bare fifty metres from the river front and opposite the Azad Maidan has raised many an eyebrow, though. "However much parking is needed in the city, parking at or even under the police headquarters is dangerous from the security point of view as well as because of the dozens of other places why choose the vicinity of this heritage structure that in a way symbolizes the Goa that has become so famous all over the country and the world for its fusion of architectural styles," says a longtime Panjim resident. Also an issue are the storm drains that are proposed in the centre of the road that will ultimately drain into the river as river tides have to be taken into consideration and in such circumstances underground parking in this area is a proposal fraught with danger given that the area is prone to flooding during rains, said another resident who did not want to be named. According to the draft plan, pedestrian streets, public transport system, cycling network, parking restructuring as well as improving access to and from the city is a priority. The plan proposes a sensible parking fee structure; free or very cheap for the first 15 minutes and more expensive after that as well as free parking areas outside the city centre which will be well connected with public transport. In general, the Panjim master plan has been welcomed. http://www.oheraldo.in/News/Main%20Page%20News/Parking-area-in-Panjim-draft-master-plan-raises-eyebrows/78011.html