Panaji: The massive traffic snarl that unfolded in Panaji over the weekend was a glaring example of civic negligence. The capital city was brought to a screeching halt as the simultaneous staging of Oktoberfest and the Ironman triathlon turned Goa’s primary arteries into a gridlocked stretch, disrupting movement across the city.Hundreds of vehicles were stranded along the 2.5km Mandovi riverfront, stretching from Miramar through the Campal area towards the Old Secretariat. The entire stretch was engulfed in an hour-long traffic jam, leaving residents and tourists frustrated and inconvenienced over the weekend.“If there is an emergency in Campal, the person will die. The authorities are not responding. Traffic is not moving,” said Corporation of the City of Panaji councillor Kabir Makhija Pinto, reflecting the panic among residents caught in the congestion.At a recent CCP council meeting, Pinto had raised concerns over the frequent hosting of exhibitions and events in residential areas of Panaji, particularly at venues such as Kala Academy and football grounds. He said such events inconvenience residents through traffic congestion, inadequate parking and noise pollution, sometimes making it difficult for them to enter or leave their homes.The overlap of two major events on the same dates exposed glaring gaps in event planning and inter-departmental coordination, residents said. While mega-events are promoted as tourism boosters that generate revenue for the state, the management of the city’s infrastructure remains inadequate. Commuters were stranded for hours as arterial roads became congested with event traffic and spectator vehicles, while diversion routes added to the pressure on an already strained road network.Pinto also expressed concern over the installation and dismantling of event structures at odd hours, including late at night, saying the activity disturbs residents and affects their daily routines.The state capital’s approach to crisis management has long been marked by a lack of preparedness. Bringing the city to a standstill in the name of festive and sporting celebrations, however, places an unreasonable burden on residents. Urban planners and municipal authorities continue to approve large-scale events without adequately providing public transport alternatives or ensuring emergency access routes. As a result, citizens are left to deal with the consequences while those responsible for planning and coordination fail to address the underlying problems.Goa Police personnel appeared helpless as the traffic chaos unfolded across the capital’s streets.
