HC gives measures to avoid traffic chaos to Dona Paula jetty

Panaji: The high court of Bombay at Goa has directed the state government to consider providing electric mini buses at a reasonable cost to cover the around 1km distance between the Dona Paula jetty and government parking facility.
“It may not be possible for senior citizens and a category of disabled persons to cover such a distance on foot to visit the said tourist spot, unless there are some internal transport facilities being made available. The requirements of such senior citizens and the disabled cannot in any manner whatsoever be neglected by the state. Adequate transport facilities are required to be made available by the state government so that such persons also can visit the Dona Paula jetty,” the HC held.
The court also noted that the road from the parking area to Dona Paula jetty has a substantial slope.
Stating that the “peace of residents in the vicinity cannot be disturbed by visitors parking their cars in front of their houses”, and that residents cannot be made to suffer due to traffic congestion, the HC directed the traffic department to take appropriate steps to create a ‘No Parking Zone’ for outside vehicles on internal roads leading to the jetty.
The HC requested the state to provide portable toilet blocks in the parking facilities. “Thus, what is expected is provision of a neatly organised parking facility with all these essentials to be made available,” the HC stated.
It is hearing a public interest petition filed by residents of Dona Paula regarding inconvenience caused to them due to haphazard parking by tourist vehicles visiting the jetty and the government’s reluctance to open up its parking facility when the area was specially acquired for parking.