------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------- Old Goa-Panaji belt to get a face-lift ---------------------------------------------- The state government has decided to give a major face-lift to the Old Goa -Panaji belt through a project costing around Rs 2 crore, in view of the exposition of St Francis Xavier and the holding of the International Film Festival of India, both of which would be held during the first week of December, next year.
The Minister for Revenue, Mr Pandurang Madkaikar, who is the chairperson of the committee appointed to carry out the beautification of the region, along with raising of the necessary infrastructure, informed pressmen that the entire exercise would be carried out by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation and would be completed by November, next year.
The committee has the North Goa Collector as its member secretary, while the chief engineer of Public Works Department , a representative of the Department of Town Planning and an official of the Archaeological Department are the members on the panel.
"The government wants to promote the twin events and hence is interested in improving the surroundings of the Se Cathedral, Basilica of Bom Jesus and other religious houses in Old Goa," he said, pointing out that since most of the Old Goa village has been declared as the conservation zone and the heritage sites are under the jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India, developmental activities would be carried out by taking all these aspects into consideration.
The work would begin at the Carambolim railway station and extend up to the Kadamba plateau, Mr Madkaikar stated, adding that raising of the infrastructure would include construction of a market complex, provision of parking facilities, upgradation of the existing tourist hotel, widening of roads, raising recreational facilities and conversion of the fish market into a modern structure.
In addition, toilets and bathing facilities as well as canteen services would be provided for the devotees visiting the religious houses, during the exposition of St Francis Xavier. "In fact, the tourists visiting Old Goa are only interested in seeing the churches and leave the place once the sightseeing is over. It has been observed that no visitor wants to do shopping or make an overnight stay in the village due to lack of facilities," he lamented.
Mr Madkaikar also observed that the work of acquisition of land for construction of a by-pass road along the Kadamba plateau was already in progress and once the road is ready, the pressure on the present Old Goa-Panaji road would be greatly reduced. "The heavy vehicles would be diverted to this by-pass road," he mentioned.
The Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar recently visited Old Goa and visited different sites to learn about the requirements of the visitors to the place, he said. Mr Madkaikar further informed that the tendering work for repairs of the culvert along the Ribandar Patto has already begun and the actual work is expected to start shortly. "The work would be carried out by the Public Works Department," he pointed out. ---------------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 12/11/03 page 5 ----------------------------------------------------
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