Public doubts cloud Margao’s Master Plan

The heritage area proposed in the Draft Master Plan 2041 for Margao.

Photo Credits: The Goan

MARGAO
The Draft Master Plan 2041 for Margao prepared by a consultant for Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) promises solutions to the city’s traffic congestion, parking woes and crumbling heritage.

But as the Margao Municipal Council is set to hold a presentation of the master plan to the public on June 19, residents are raising questions. Does the plan truly address the city’s core issues, or is it a vehicle for commercial development of government-acquired land? And will its ambitious goals be funded by taxpayers or private partnerships?

Transit and zoning plans

The draft plan proposes an integrated public transit system for the city, besides a plan for the rejuvenation of the River Sal, and creating new economic activity in the city known for its bustling trade and commerce.

In the draft plan, the GSUDA-appointed consultant has broadly divided the city into three zones: Zone One in Fatorda, Zone Two covering the Margao municipal building area and adjoining markets, and the city’s southern zone, in and around the Margao railway station.

The plan has proposed re-strategising NH66 in Zone One (Fatorda) by proposing a civic commercial corridor, anchored at the KTC bus stand. However, there are concerns over how GSUDA intends to develop the area into a commercial corridor—whether by converting the lush green paddy fields acquired by the agency around 20 years ago to set up the controversial truck terminus.

Describing the Holy Spirit Church area in Zone Two as a significant node along the Heritage Loop, the draft plan has proposed a revival and celebration as a heritage area through pedestrianisation of streets and creation of plazas. It proposes opening the Margao Municipal Garden to the adjoining street, while there is a suggestion to convert the South Goa Administrator of Comunidades building into a museum. There is a proposal to create a plaza adjoining the Comunidade building, and the conversion of the streets around the markets into pedestrian streets.

The draft plan has proposed the rejuvenation of River Sal with revived farming, agro-tourism, public spaces, a park, walking and cycling trails, and other riverside recreation activities.

River Sal rejuvenation

However, there is scepticism about the plan. Residents questioned how the proposed activities will rejuvenate River Sal, Salcete’s lifeline, when the water body is devastated by the rampant discharge of the city’s sewage.

“How can revived farming and agro-tourism, and riverside recreation activities proposed in the draft plan rejuvenate the River Sal? How will the government revive farming and boost agro-tourism— with funds from the exchequer or by inviting private players via the PPP mode?” a citizen questioned.

The draft has come out with an ambitious plan for the city’s South Zone, proposing to develop it as a new economic node connected to the rest of the city via the transit loop, anchored at the Inter-Modal Transit Gateway proposed at the railway station.

South zone scepticism

Here, different land uses, including mixed-use commercial, residential, and industrial, have been proposed in the plan, raising questions about how the consultant would achieve the objective.

The plan envisages an innovation hub housing a range of programmes such as retail, art and culture, entertainment, an incubation hub, innovation labs, hospitality, and multipurpose space in the land designated for commercial and public use just south of the railway station.

But critics question whether these activities will come up on the GSUDA land measuring 28,000 square metres currently tilled by farmers, or whether the government will involve private landowners to take up these projects on their properties located south of the Margao railway station.

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Master Plan back in spotlight with civic polls on horizon

MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council is set to present the Draft Master Plan 2041 to the public on June 19, more than a year after it was quietly shelved following a wave of public criticism.

The decision to open the plan to public scrutiny comes 15 months after a controversial closed-door presentation was held on January 17, 2024, where only a select group of professionals and real estate developers were invited. The lack of transparency at the time sparked public uproar, forcing the council to put the planning exercise on hold.

In response to the backlash, the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA), which appointed the consultant for the plan, issued a letter to the council calling for a public presentation before any formal adoption by the agency or the state government.

The sudden move to revive and present the plan has stirred fresh debate in local circles. Key questions remain: Will the civic body invite public feedback and objections after the presentation, or will it treat the event as a formality before proceeding with implementation? There is also growing speculation about the timing, with civic elections expected early next year.

Municipal officials have yet to clarify whether the June 19 presentation will lead to meaningful public engagement or simply pave the way for swift execution of the plan’s proposals.

MMC slammed for 48-hour notice before presentation

MARGAO: As the Margao Municipal Council issued a public notice announcing a public presentation on the Master Plan 2041 for Margao on June 19, citizens and political parties have called for transparency over the entire exercise.

A memorandum was submitted to MMC Chief Officer Melvyn Vaz by a delegation of Madganvcho Awaaz, strongly objecting to the MMC plan to hold the presentation with just a 48-hour public notice. The NGO urged the Chief Officer to postpone the presentation.

“The draft plan, which will shape Margao’s development for the next two decades, has been quietly scheduled with no prior public engagement, adequate publicity, or transparency. Citizens are questioning the intention behind this hurried process,” questioned Madganvcho Awaaz convenor Prabhav Naik.

Meanwhile, the Convener of Margao Block Congress and Shadow Council for Margao, Savio Coutinho, appealed to all stakeholders to attend the public presentation. Coutinho also demanded that the draft master plan be uploaded to the municipal council's website.