CALANGUTE: Calangute panchayat along with the local traffic cell and police have put a plan in place to handle the deluge of tourists expected to throng the tourism hub on New Year’s Eve.
With the number of tourists expected to go up on December 30, 31 and January 1, panchayat member Shawn Martins said that on these three days, large vehicles viz buses, tempo travellers, etc, coming from Panaji and Mapusa will not be allowed to enter Calangute and will have to park in a designated area at Bhodkovodh junction.
“We have also joined hands with the Arpora-Nagoa panchayat, and all large vehicles coming from Arpora will be stopped at the Arpora bridge, for which parking arrangements have been near the wax museum,” he said.
He said that the regular peak season parking zone in the fields in front of Calangute church has been discontinued this year as farmers have planted a variety of vegetables and herbs. “Just for three days of parking, we did not want to destroy their hard work,” Martins said.
An additional parking zone has also been created at Baga. “We’ve also told owners of open land to clear the area and allow tourists to park their vehicles by levying rates notified by the panchayat. In doing so, the land owners can also earn something. Police will be deployed at all junctions to maintain vigil,” said Martins.
Traffic movement in Calangute was smooth during the Christmas weekend, he said, and no special parking or traffic arrangements had to be made as there were fewer tourists this year who drove down in their own vehicles.
“Many have come by flights and are moving around with rented two-wheelers and four-wheelers,” he added.