PANAJI: Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) Mayor Uday Madkaikar on Wednesday claimed that they will not change the route for Saturday's Carnival floats parade after the Goa traffic police refused to give permission to hold the parade along the D B Bandodkar Marg.
North Goa Collector Gopal Parsekar has convened an urgent meeting of the CCP Mayor, commissioner, Goa traffic police and other officials at 10 am on Thursday, February 20, to resolve the issue.
Addressing a press conference, Madkaikar said that the Goa traffic police had earlier granted permission to hold Carnival floats parade along the D B Bandodkar Marg but it was now withdrawn citing traffic congestion.
He said that the CCP had already taken a decision to shift the parade from the Miramar-Dona Paula route to earlier D B Bandodkar Marg and had also made all the preparations. He said that the CCP will not change the route at the last minute and will go ahead with its decision come what may.
According to Madkaikar, last year the CCP shifted Carnival floats parade at Miramar since it was difficult to start the parade from below the old Mandovi bridge due to ongoing work of the third Mandovi bridge.
Madkaikar said that following requests by many hoteliers, the Panaji Carnival Celebrations Committee for the first time will sell tickets for the interested tourists and others, who can occupy chairs and watch the entire parade along the route. These seating arrangements will be provided opposite Captain of Ports and near Hotel Mandovi.
The tickets are priced at Rs 500 per head and at present provision has been made for 500 chairs, Madkaikar said adding that depending upon the demand more chairs would be made available. These tickets would be available at the CCP office during office hours.
The CCP will also deploy 100 volunteers during the Carnival parade. During the four-day festival, various activities will be organised at the Samba square (Gracia de Orta garden) from February 22. There will be food stalls and bands in attendance while, the annual Red and Black dance will be held on the last day.
To a question, Madkaikar said that so far 27 persons and groups had submitted their entries for the parade while, the CCP will also participate in the parade with a float designed by Francisco Martins on the theme "Wedding Destination".
CCP deputy mayor Pascoala Mascarenhas, corporators Soraya Pinto Makhija, Pundalik Raut Desai and Menino D'Cruz, commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues, former corporator Naguesh Kariashetty, Panaji carnival celebrations committee chairman Francisco Martins, Joaquim Teles and other members were pres