It will be a new brand new Calangute, this tourist season.Fed up with illegal encroachments and congested streets, like-minded people ofCalangute have come together, under the leadership of the local MLA to not only demolish encroachments but alsoto construct a footpath worth two crore rupees, funded by them.
In probably, the most unique movement of its’ kind, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, Joseph Sequira,former Sarpanch along with hoteliers and restaurant owners have come together toraise fund to construction a footpath on the busiest tourists stretch of Goa,from Baga to Calangute. The uniqueness of this exercise is that there are no lobbiesor associations stopping this project, with hoteliers and establishment ownersthemselves supporting the drive.
The Calangute Panchayat has issued notice to all the shopowners who have encroached on the roadside.
Speaking to the Goan, former sarpanch Joseph Sequeira “ Theextension of the heavily encroachedroad, was pending for five years. The panchayat has issued notices and then webegan with the demolition drive. In the first phase we have begun fromCalangute to Baga Stretch where two meters of encroachment on both the sides ofroad is being demolished”.
MLA Calangute Michael Lobo said “It is an effort of alllike- minded people to make Calangute a more beautiful place for all people whocome to this village. We are going to take up construction of footpath in theentire coastal section starting right from Sinquerim to Baga in a phasedmanner”.
“The footpaths will give tourists space to walk. Right nowthey run the risk of being hit by vehicles” Lobo added
He further said “Seeing this drive, we expect the PWD totake up the work of road expansion to complete the process of more space forpedestrians as well as vehicles.
