About Ponda
Ponda, sometimes also referred as Fonda, is one of the important cities of North Goa district. Located approximately 29 kms from capital city of Panaji, Ponda is officially the cultural capital and industrial hub of Goa. Besides, today it is also the fastest growing city of Goa. Here is a brief summary and round up of Ponda city.
Administration in Ponda
The civic administration of Ponda is solely looked after by Ponda Municipal Council. Ponda is one of the few cities of Goa that has municipal council. Although Ponda Municipal Council’s administrative size is small and its budget is way smaller than Panaji Municipal Corporation, but it is certainly making genuine efforts to take Ponda city to greater height of prosperity and development.
Contact information
Near Municipal Garden, Tisk Road, Ponda, Goa - 403401
Phone no: (0832)-2312512, 2315006.
Ponda has very good infrastructure in important areas of health and law & order. Good number of private hospitals and police stations at strategic locations make Ponda pretty healthy and stable city.
Amongst hospitals the most famous one are Savarkar Hospital and Hospital for Infectious Diseases. These hospitals are obviously and duly assisted by hordes of medical stores spread all across Ponda.
Other important services found in Ponda are:
Auto rickshaws are by far the most popular local transport in Ponda, this is actually true about all other towns/cities of Goa too. The current fare for auto rickshaws anywhere in Goa is Rs 20 for per kilometer. The fare is same for subsequent kilometers.
Besides, you can also avail shuttle services run by public owned Kadamba Transport Services; that connects Ponda to important cities like Panaji and Margao. Shuttle services can be availed at Kadamba Bus Stand, located at the very heart of Ponda city.
Business and Economy of Ponda
Ponda is the industrial hub of Goa. Goa’s all big/small industries and factories are located in Ponda city and its small adjoining towns, which all together constitute as Ponda Taluka. Chemical factories, steel factories, spice factories/farms and cahswnet factories form the major bulk of factories here.
Besides, tourism is also the dominant sector of Ponda’s economy. This is not surprising at all, as Goa itself is the tourist hub of India. But Ponda is not known for its beaches, it is rather known for its beautiful temples. In fact Goa’s all beautiful temples are located in Ponda, which today obviously have become tourist attractions of Goa and are contributing immensely to Ponda’s economy.
Contact information of Ponda Fire Station:
Station Road, Opposite Ponda Post Office,
Ponda, Goa- 403517,
Phone no: (0832) 2313101.
As for blood bank is concerned, then as of today there is no prominent blood bank in Ponda, the nearest blood bank is located in Margao town, namely Hospicio Blood Bank. Phone no: (0832)-2703801, 2705664.
Lifestyle in Ponda
Compared to other North Goan towns like Panaji, Candolim & Calangute, lifestyle in Ponda is not that cosmopolitan. In fact it is pretty conservative. One of the main reasons for this is that Ponda is Hindu heartland of Goa and has very minimum catholic population.
In fact today the prevailing situation is such that many of the famous temples located in Ponda don’t even allow entry to any tourist who is clad in fashionable or revealing cloths.
Administration in Ponda
The civic administration of Ponda is solely looked after by Ponda Municipal Council. Ponda is one of the few cities of Goa that has municipal council. Although Ponda Municipal Council’s administrative size is small and its budget is way smaller than Panaji Municipal Corporation, but it is certainly making genuine efforts to take Ponda city to greater height of prosperity and development.
Contact information
Near Municipal Garden, Tisk Road, Ponda, Goa - 403401
Phone no: (0832)-2312512, 2315006.
Important Services
Ponda has very good infrastructure in important areas of health and law & order. Good number of private hospitals and police stations at strategic locations make Ponda pretty healthy and stable city. Amongst hospitals the most famous one are Savarkar Hospital and Hospital for Infectious Diseases. These hospitals are obviously and duly assisted by hordes of medical stores spread all across Ponda.
Other important services found in Ponda are:
- Banks and ATMs
- Courier services
- Post offices
- Travel agents
Transport Services in Ponda
Auto rickshaws are by far the most popular local transport in Ponda, this is actually true about all other towns/cities of Goa too. The current fare for auto rickshaws anywhere in Goa is Rs 20 for per kilometer. The fare is same for subsequent kilometers.
Besides, you can also avail shuttle services run by public owned Kadamba Transport Services; that connects Ponda to important cities like Panaji and Margao. Shuttle services can be availed at Kadamba Bus Stand, located at the very heart of Ponda city.
Business and Economy of Ponda
Ponda is the industrial hub of Goa. Goa’s all big/small industries and factories are located in Ponda city and its small adjoining towns, which all together constitute as Ponda Taluka. Chemical factories, steel factories, spice factories/farms and cahswnet factories form the major bulk of factories here. Besides, tourism is also the dominant sector of Ponda’s economy. This is not surprising at all, as Goa itself is the tourist hub of India. But Ponda is not known for its beaches, it is rather known for its beautiful temples. In fact Goa’s all beautiful temples are located in Ponda, which today obviously have become tourist attractions of Goa and are contributing immensely to Ponda’s economy.
Emergency Services in Ponda
Ponda has fire station, good number of hospitals and a police station. All in all, Ponda is pretty well equipped to deal with any typical emergency events like fire accidents, medical emergencies and law & order emergencies.Contact information of Ponda Fire Station:
Station Road, Opposite Ponda Post Office,
Ponda, Goa- 403517,
Phone no: (0832) 2313101.
As for blood bank is concerned, then as of today there is no prominent blood bank in Ponda, the nearest blood bank is located in Margao town, namely Hospicio Blood Bank. Phone no: (0832)-2703801, 2705664.
Lifestyle in Ponda
Compared to other North Goan towns like Panaji, Candolim & Calangute, lifestyle in Ponda is not that cosmopolitan. In fact it is pretty conservative. One of the main reasons for this is that Ponda is Hindu heartland of Goa and has very minimum catholic population.
In fact today the prevailing situation is such that many of the famous temples located in Ponda don’t even allow entry to any tourist who is clad in fashionable or revealing cloths.
Other Important facts and figures of Ponda
- Languages spoken: Konkani and Marathi. Hindi is also widely spoken & understood by locals
- Population: approximately 22,664 (2011 census)
- District: North Goa
- Pin code: 403401
- Telephone code: 0832
- Nearest Railway station: Madgaon railway station (19 kms away from Ponda)