Calangute panchayat, traffic cell begin drive to seize, auction abandoned vehicles

CALANGUTE: The Calangute panchayat and the Goa police traffic cell on Tuesday began a drive to seize and subsequently auction abandoned vehicles that have been “creating nuisance for pedestrians, tourists and occupants of the vicinity, traffic congestions and obstructions to free flow of traffic”.
Most of the abandoned vehicles belong to bike and car rental operators who have been abandoning their two-wheelers and four-wheelers along roadsides, on pavements and other open spaces when they get worn out and tourists no longer want to rent them.
There are around 30 four-wheelers and a large number of two-wheelers lying abandoned along roadsides and in building society compounds, all of which will be seized during the drive this week, panchayat members said.
In February, the Calangute panchayat had issued a public notice warning the owners to remove the vehicles before the end of the month, failing which the panchayat would confiscate/attach the vehicles. Despite the notice, however, none of the vehicles were removed by the owners, Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira said.
“These abandoned vehicles hinder traffic. One of these vehicles was on the road for the past three years, which was also removed. A notice will be issued to the owners of the seized vehicles and fines will be levied on them. These vehicles will be sold by auction after the traffic cell is informed and an advertisement is put out,” he said.