9k pay-parking spots in Panaji, but space still not enough

Panaji: Since the introduction of pay parking in Panaji, more than 9,000 pay parking spots have been marked for vehicles. However, the struggle to find a parking spot, double parking, and the jams created at peak hours by vehicles looking for parking have left Panjimites agitated rather than satisfied with the system.

The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) introduced the pay parking system in 2020 to regulate parking in the state capital amidst the rising number of vehicles in the city. With the first three phases in operation, and now a fourth phase set to be implemented, the CCP has made a few strides to that end, but not much to residents’ liking. Currently, Panaji has 9,373 pay parking spots marked for both two-wheelers and four-wheelers.

Rugnak Naik, a govt official working in Panaji, who parks his two-wheeler outside the Azad Maidan, said that due to the heavy density of vehicles, there is no space to park his two-wheeler. “I have to keep riding around at least four times just to find a corner space to park my vehicle.”

While the rate for a four-wheeler in a notified parking spot is Rs 20 for the first hour, plus Rs 15 for an additional hour, Carlos Lorenco, a resident from St Inez, alleged that pay parking wardens overcharge vehicle owners. “There are signs on the road which specify the prices, yet some wardens charge up to Rs 40 from us for an hour. Regardless, the cars are not parked properly,” said Lorenco.


Some four-wheelers are also parked in no-parking zones, for which the parking wardens charge as well. Ajit Kosambe, a resident of Caranzalem, said, “Parking fee for cars that are parked in no-parking zones? This is very haphazard management.”

Linga Bishtagond, a cab driver, said that he witnessed a parking warden charging a rent-a-cab user a parking fee as high as Rs 100, taking advantage of the fact that the vehicle user was a tourist.

A senior CCP official said that the fourth and final phase of the pay parking system will cover Miramar and St Inez. “We have allotted parking spots of 12.5sqm for the four-wheelers, and 2sqm for two-wheelers across the city. It is difficult to carve out more space. We have covered most areas in the city,” the official said.

The fourth phase is under a tendering process and will be implemented within a few weeks.