PANAJI
Plans to develop the Freedom Fighters’ Memorial at Patradevi, which had been pending since 2016, are finally taking shape.The Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) has invited tenders to develop Phase I of the memorial and the tender document has revealed that the first phase of development is estimated at around Rs 9.5 crore.
The project is expected to be completed within a year once the agency is selected and a work order is issued. It is likely that the agency will be finalised by the end of this month.
The Freedom Fighter’s Memorial at Patradevi, which was inaugurated by then prime minister late Rajiv Gandhi in 1985, is in dilapidated condition.
The site which is close to the Maharashtra-Goa border has historical importance as in 1955, 31 satyagrahis trying to enter Goa were killed by Portuguese soldiers at the spot.
Freedom fighters and people have been demandiung that the memorial be developed so that tourists visiting the State can have a glimpse at Goa’s history.
During the tenure of Siddharth Kuncolienkar as vice-chairman of GSIDC, the government in 2016 had decided to demolish the present memorial and develop a new one.
However, the process did not go ahead during his tenure though the preliminary architectural plans were ready.
