Panaji
With a Rs 30 crore sanction from the Central government to develop the Fort Aguada Jail Complex, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) is planning to develop the complex in style, and provide a visual bonanza for tourists. The same may take up to two years to complete, said Nikhil Desai, Managing Director of GTDC, on the sidelines of the inauguration of Raj Bhavan on Friday.
“There will be a sound and light show for tourists, and we will develop it in such a way that tourists can spend at least four to six hours there,” said Desai, adding that people would be able to learn about the freedom struggle, as the GTDC is planning life-sized busts, as well as depictions of their respective contributions to Goa’s freedom struggle. In addition, there will be an audio-visual room where people will be able to learn whatever they don’t know about the freedom struggle, like various smaller revolts. Desai also gave an assurance that the complex would be made differently-abled friendly.
In addition to this, Desai said that due to the poor shape of Cabo de Rama, the Archives and Tourism Departments have come together to restore it. “We’re trying to make it more tourist-friendly with proper signages,” said Desai, saying that these were the interventions the GTDC was trying to make to improve heritage tourism in the State.
Meanwhile, Desai said that the GTDC was trying to put together a cultural entertainment programme at Baga Beach which would be a combination of leisure and folk art. He named dalo, fugdi and mando as dances that would be portrayed against the backdrop of modernity. This will be followed by serving Goan food. He explained that in Goa, it was difficult for tourists to experience folk dances and the like unless there was a festival. So the GTDC was trying to change this.
