PORVORIM
While the incomplete market complex cum sports ground project near Hanuman temple at Alto Betim has missed several deadlines, another major project at Porvorim plateau has been faced with an uncertain future.The ambitious sports complex at Socorro has also gone into extra time, with no results for a staggering 16 years. Worse still, the construction work of sports complex at Socorro has received another setback as the contractor has abandoned the work midway, reportedly due to some issues with Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC).
Incidentally, this project was conceived way back in 2001, when the then chief minister Manohar Parrikar had laid the foundation stone on May 11, 2001,
while Ulhas Asnodkar was the Aldona MLA. At that time, project was estimated to cost Rs 26 crore.
The project was shelved for over a decade and the Socorro Panchayat issued a construction license to GSIDC only on April 2, 2011, but the work was not started by GSIDC.
The project was further held up for two years and was revived only in 2013, when then chief minister Manohar Parrikar laid a second foundation stone on February 25, 2013, while Rohan Khaunte was the Porvorim MLA. However, work on the project started only after 9 months.
According to sources, work on the sports complex, estimated to cost Rs 34.5 crore, began only on October 31, 2013, and was expected to be completed by April 30, 2015.
The project includes a football ground with jogging track, swimming pool, badminton courts (3), table tennis courts (2), squash courts (2), basket ball court, gymnasium, multipurpose hall, library, changing rooms, lockers and a kids play area.
Many residents had raised eyebrows when the second foundation stone was laid for the same sports complex, especially after Socorro Panchayat had already issued construction license to GSIDC in April 2011.
The project missed several deadlines and the contractor, Classic Construction, finally stopped work since the last several months, following issues with GSIDC. With every delay, locals are concerned that the project cost is bound to escalate even further.
