Tourists visiting Palolem beach in Canacona are experiencing significant inconvenience due to escalating traffic congestion, particularly during weekends. The proliferation of shops, limited road infrastructure, and insufficient parking facilities are making the beach increasingly unwelcoming for visitors.
Parking Shortage Forces Roadside Parking
With available parking spaces proving inadequate, tourists are compelled to park their vehicles along roadsides. Pandurang Naik Gavkar, councillor from Delem, highlighted that narrow roads, excessive vehicular congestion, and illegal roadside parking lead to severe traffic jams on the Palolem beach road, causing considerable distress to local residents as well.
Current Parking Arrangements
Currently, parking is arranged near the entrance to Palolem beach. Additionally, temporary parking facilities are made available on private lands in the Ourem and Cleopatra areas. However, these measures are falling short.
Dayanand Pagi, a local resident, stated that with surging tourism, the existing arrangements are proving inadequate. He suggested that the Canacona Municipal Council could acquire more land, keeping future requirements in mind, and establish a permanent parking facility.
Demand for Permanent Parking
Canacona councillor Dhiraj Naikgaunkar also demanded the construction of a permanent parking facility near Palolem beach. During holiday seasons and weekends, the beach witnesses massive crowds of tourists, the majority of whom arrive in their own vehicles. This congestion leads to traffic jams stretching over a kilometer, posing a safety risk to pedestrians and in any emergency situation.
Locals and tourism stakeholders have appealed to the state administration to take action to resolve the traffic issues at Palolem.
