TRAFFIC DIVERSION AND PARKING ARRANGEMENT FOR ST. FRANCIS XAVIER FEAST

Panaji: November 19, 2025

District Magistrate, North Goa has issued an order diverting traffic and establishing specific parking arrangements for vehicles in view of the Novenas and Feast of St. Francis Xavier at Old Goa scheduled to be held from November 24, 2025 to December 03, 2025.

The traffic arrangement are as follows:

Diversions for Panaji to Old Goa via Ribandar- There will be special buses to ferry passengers from Panaj to Old Goa via Ribandar. The special buses from Panaji to Old Goa will proceed via Ribandar and on reaching Dempe Engineering at Old Goa will take left turn to enter th Bhakia Property for parking at Bhakia bus stand.

The two wheelers and four wheelers on reaching Dempo Engineering at Old Goa will take left turn to enter Bhakia property for parking. The vehicles carrying sick/Disabled Car Pass will take diversion at Divja Circle to proceed via Kadamba Bypass Old Neura Junction to park their vehicles in the open spa opposite Sulabh Sauchalaya near Old Goa Panchayat.

The vehicles parked in Bhakia property on their return journey to Panaji, will take the same route via Ribandar and vehicles parked in the open space opposite Sulabh Sauchalaya near Old Goa Panchayat while exiting will take the road towards St. Augustine Tower and merge with the traffic proceeding towards Ribandar at Navelkar Estate.

In diversion for Panaji to Old Goa via Kadamba By-Pass – Panaji to Ponda Route Buses will not be allowed to proceed via Ribandar. Instead, they will be diverted at KTC Circle to proceed via Kadamba By-Pass (NH-748), the two wheelers and four wheelers on reaching Venkatesh Petrol Pump will take left turn towards Santa Monica Nunnery and on reaching at St. Augustine Tower junction will take further left turn and on reaching Habitat Junction will take right turn and on reaching Dempo Engineering shall take left turn to enter Bhakia property for parking.

The two wheelers and four wheelers will also be parked in the newly developed open space along the NH-748 before the residence of Ex-MLA Shri Pandurang Madkaikar. All heavy and medium vehicles will be diverted via Kadamba Bye-Pass NH-748 and on Saturday, Sunday and Feast Day, heavy and medium goods vehicles desiring to proceed via Old Goa will be diverted at Merces junction on NH-66 and at Banastarim junction on NH-748 to proceed via New Zuari Bridge and Amona Bridge.

For South Goa vehicles – The road from Pilar to Old Goa will be one way for the movement of traffic. No vehicle from Old Goa will be allowed to return via Neura. All vehicles shall exit via NH-748.

Two wheelers and four wheelers from South Goa will park in the Ella Farm and at Animal Husbandry premises and buses coming from South Goa via Neura road on reaching Ella Farm Main Gate will take left turn and come to Bus Stand at Kunkolkar School Ground and will exit on NH-748 for onward journey.

As where for Ponda Side Vehicles, two wheelers and four wheelers coming from Ponda side on reaching near Pinto Garage will take left turn for parking at the ground behind Pinto Garage.

Ponda to Old Goa Buses on reaching near Madkaikar Plaza will take right turn near Hubbard Chicken Farm for parking. For return journey, the two wheelers and four wheelers will take the same route to go towards Ponda. The normal traffic from Ponda desiring to go to Panaji will not be allowed to proceed via Old Goa. They will be diverted to proceed via Old Goa Over Bridge Kadamba By-Pass (NH-748).

Ponda to Panaji route buses will not be allowed to proceed via Old Goa Church complex. Instead, they will be diverted at Neura junction to proceed via Kadamba By-Pass (NH-748). Heavy vehicles coming from Ponda side will be diverted at Banastarim junction to proceed via Amona Bridge to join NH-66 at Karaswada and the stretch of road between Old Goa Police Station to Church junction via residence of the Ex. MLA, Shri Pandurang Madkaikar will be one way. No vehicle from Church junction shall be allowed to take right turn to reach Old Goa Police Station via residence of the Ex.MLA, Shri Panduang Madkaikar.

Two Wheelers and Four Wheelers and Mini Buses coming from Gaundalim side will be parked at Gaundalim Helipad. On their journey, the vehicles will take the same route towards Gaundalim. Heavy and medium vehicles will not be permitted on this road. Heavy vehicles will be diverted at Marcel to proceed towards Banastarim.

For Diwar side vehicles -The vehicles coming from Diwar to Old Goa shall proceed via Viceroy’s Arch and will be parked in the courtyard of St. Cajetan Church. The vehicles coming from Diwar shall proceed through Viceroy’s Arch and Arch of Conception to go towards Ponda and Panaji. Vehicles from Ponda side proceeding towards Diwar will take right U-Turn at Neura Junction and proceed towards Old Goa Petrol Pump to come on to Gaundalim road and then take left turn near Ramesh Naik house, to proceed to Diwar jetty.

The vehicles coming from Gaundalim side and desiring to proceed to Diwar will take right turn near Shri Ramesh Naik house to proceed to Diwar Jetty. The vehicles coming from Panaji via Ribandar to go to Diwar will take left turn at Old Goa Church junction, take the route towards St. Catherine Chapel and thereafter take left turn on the new by-lane to go to Diwar Jetty.

The lane connecting Gaundaulim road to Arch of Conception shall be no entry, the road from Old Goa Church junction towards Diwar Ferry via St. Catherine Chapel will be One Way and no heavy and medium vehicles will be allowed to cross Diwar Ferry. All such vehicles will use Ribandar Ferry to enter and exit Diwar.

Parking lots have been arranged for Panaji – Old Goa (via Ribandar) Vehicles wherein two wheelers and four wheelers coming from Panaji side via Ribandar will be parked at Bhakia Property. For vehicles coming from Panaji side via new Kadamba By-Pass (NH-4A) will take the road near Venkatesh Petrol Pump to proceed for parking at Bhakia property taking left near St. Augustin Tower junction. These vehicles after taking the road near Venkatesh Petrol Pump will also be parked in the open space opposite St. Xavier Academy. These vehicles will also be parked in the newly developed open space next to NH-748 before the residence pf Ex- MLA Shri Pandurang Madkaikar.

Two Wheelers and Four Wheelers coming from South Goa side will be parked at Ella Farm and at Animal Husbandry Premises, Also two wheelers and four wheelers coming from Ponda side will be parked at open ground near Pinto Garage. Two Wheelers will also be parked at two open Plots belonging to Mr. Colaco and Mr. Sequeira opposite Ex. MLA Shri Pandurang Madkaikar’s Residence. The two wheelers and four wheelers coming from Gaundalim side will be parked at Gaundalim Helipad and those coming from Diwar Ferry shall be parked in the courtyard of St. Cajetan Church.

VIP vehicles will be parked in the courtyard of Old Goa PS. Priest’s vehicles will be parked in the compound behind Basilica of Bom Jesus. Church Volunteers vehicles will be parked in the asphalted parking area behind Sulabh Souchalaya. Vehicles of Sick/Disabled Persons will be parked at open space opposite Sulabh Souchalaya and Courtyard of Village Panchayat, Old Goa and two wheeler parking of Policemen will be at Coconut groves near Old Goa jetty.

The bus stands are arranged at Panaji for Old Goa buses via Ribandar road, at Bhakia property. Panaji for Old Goa buses via Kadamba road, along NH-748 behind the residence of Ex. MLA Shri Pandurang Madkaikar

At South Goa – Old Goa buses, at Kunkalkar School Groundat Ponda Old Goa buses, near Hubbard Farm at Gaundalim – Old Goa buses at Gaundalim Helipad and buses of devotees and tourists will be along NH-748 behind the residence of Ex. MLA Shri Pandurang Madkaikar.

The stretch of road between Old Goa Church junction to Gandhi Circle will be closed for all types of vehicles except emergency vehicles like Police, Ambulance and Fire Brigade.

The ring round road connecting Old Goa Church junction to St. Catherine Chapel to Arch of Conception to Petrol Pump to Old Goa Police Station to the residence of Ex. MLA Shri Pandurang Madkaikar to Old Goa Church junction will be One Way.

DIP/NB/AXP/SAG/CR/SN/2025/ 945