MARGAO (Goa) The Shadow Council for Margao strongly criticized the authorities including the MMC for *granting permission to Vishal Mart without checking the provision of parking facility of the Mart*.

The SCM further stated  that the traffic Chaos and congestion at Aquem *reflects on the poor foresight and planning of the city*. The situation along the road from Carmelite monastery right upto Power house is worse than a *nightmare experience* and speaks of the manner in which big time businessman get the ODP (outline development plan) modified as per their whims and fancies.

All along the road one will notice different road widening setbacks for different projects. It will be interesting to note that a project bang opposite Costa factory has been constructed much away from the centre of the road, and this particular project was constructed several years back.

With the passage of time and growth in vehicle population, one could expect that the width of the road would increase. Surprisingly the *Vishal Mart Complex which came up recently, hardly has any road widening area*. This contrast between the setbacks of both the projects is noticable even by a layman without any technical qualification.

Mr. Savio Coutinho  Convenor of SCM stated that on account of very poor parking facility of Vishal Mart, visitors are *parking their vehicles on internal road’s in the area, thereby causing immense hardships to the local residents*. The Margao Municipal Council should have had simple *foresight before granting trade licence* to Vishal Mart to start operation.

The SCM stated that it is necessary for the concerned authorities to work out for *corrective measures to ease the traffic congestion along the road so as to relieve the general public from the hardships faced by them*.

The SCM further warned that the public will be *forced to come on the streets* in case of failure of the authorities to address the issue.