The internal Parra road, more famously known as Madani (coconut road), is one stretch in Goa that has attained cult status among tourists for all the wrong reasons.
Made famous by the Bollywood flick Dear Zindagi, this road has become so
dear to tourists that in the quest for photos and selfies on this famous stretch, they fail to realise the inconvenience caused to locals who use the road to commute.
The Alia Bhatt-starrer Dear Zindagi, went on to capture the beauty of this road dotted with coconut trees on both sides, setting the stage and craze for tourists to come and get a slice of this location.
Ever since the movie was released in November 2016, the Parra road has become such an obsession with tourists that it is on their must-do list in Goa. Notwithstanding seasons, one can find tourists on this stretch throughout the year.
At one point of time this year, some of the tourists' obnoxious demand was to build a separate road for the locals so that they could be free to do as they please at this location.
The Parra village panchayat even appointed four people to man the road
so as to ensure smooth flow of traffic, but that too is not helping, according to sarpanch Chandanad Harmalkar. The unruly tourists do not listen and have even got physical with those telling them to maintain decorum.
On many occasions, the unruly behaviour of tourists brought them face-to-face with locals, leading to arguments. The on-and-off police presence at the location has not helped in bringing order or a semblance of such.
The Parra village panchayat even appointed four people to man the road
so as to ensure smooth flow of traffic, but that too is not helping, according to sarpanch Chandanad Harmalkar. The unruly tourists do not listen and have even got physical with those telling them to maintain decorum.
Recently, a 12-year-old boy who was on his way to tuition class on his cycle was seriously hurt when a tourist-driven four-wheeler hit him on this road. After hitting the boy, the vehicle went off the road.
The incident angered locals who demanded action against the driver and also called upon the authorities to bring about traffic discipline on this road.
The Bollywood flick Dear Zindagi, which revolves around a psychiatrist (Shah Rukh Khan), has many good takeaways on life and living. The tourists, however, fail to see the positive aspects of the movie and all that matters for them is a holiday mixed with hooliganism on this peaceful stretch of Goa.
