A file photo of the new market complex building at Porvorim.
PORVORIM
Over four years have passed since the new market complex near the Hanuman temple at Porvorim was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, but most shops and offices in the market complex continue to remain idle.
Sawant had inaugurated the new market complex amid much fanfare on August 16, 2021, and then Goa Housing Board (GHB) Chairman Subhash Shirodkar had announced during the function that the online process to auction shops and offices in the new market would begin from September 15 and be completed by September 30.
The old market complex was later demolished, and those shop owners were offered shops in the new market complex at a discounted rate of Rs 1 lakh per sq. metre. However, only nine of the 40 shop owners in the old market complex have so far bought shops in the new market complex.
On February 2, 2024, the GHB had advertised the auction of 11 shops in the new market complex, and the basic rate for these shops was fixed at Rs 2.5 lakh per sq. metre, while the annual income limit for the purchaser was fixed at Rs 7.2 lakh.
The area of the shops ranged between 25.17 sq. metres and 28.33 sq. metres, which included the mezzanine space. However, the response to this advertisement was very poor.
On account of the high rate and low income limit, only one person had bought two shops at auction, and all other shops remained unsold.
Speaking to The Goan, a resident of Porvorim who was interested in buying the shops stated that the rates for these shops are beyond the reach of the common man. “Who has got so much money to buy the shops on an auction basis? The person who buys the shop should be very rich. Besides, the annual income limit fixed by the GHB is a big joke. Can a person with an annual income of only Rs 7.2 lakh buy these shops costing over Rs 50 lakh?” asked the resident.
When contacted, GHB Chairman Jit Arolkar stated that the rates for the shops were fixed by the Sub-Registrar, and the GHB had forwarded these rates to the government for approval. “On receipt of the government’s approval, the GHB began the process of selling the shops and has no power to reduce these rates,” said Arolkar.
He informed that offices at the new market complex will be auctioned shortly.
Jit Arolkar had earlier told The Goan that there had been a delay in the auctioning of shops and offices, as the existing GHB building had to be demolished and the entire GHB administration had to be shifted to the new market complex.
