MARGAO
Domestic tourists and visitors, who visited the world famous Colva beach to usher in the New Year, had no other option but to answer nature's call right on the beach with the promised toilets along the Colva-Benaulim beach stretch yet to take shape till date.
Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) officials, however, said work on the Rs 13.87 crore development project for Colva and Benaulim, including toilet blocks at the two beaches, should hopefully start by January end.
The GTDC had carried out the exercise of inspecting the beaches at Colva, Benaulim, besides Varca and Cavelossim, around two months ago to explore the possibility of creating additional infrastructure, including toilet blocks and changing rooms along the coastal belt.
Sadly, thousands of domestic tourists and visitors, who came to the two beaches to usher in the New Year have been left with no option than to answer nature's call right on the beach, either around the vegetation or the roads leading to the beach.
When The Goan contacted a technical official in the GTDC to shed light on the proposed infrastructure development at Benaulim and Colva, he pointed out that the process of issuing work order to the contractor has reached an advanced stage. "We have already opened the technical bids received from three bidders, of which one bid was rejected. The financial bids of remaining two contractors will be opened this week, followed by the issuance of the work order to the successful bidder," the official said.
The Rs 13.87 crore infrastructure development package for Colva beach includes beautification of the entire area, development of the long-neglected children's park, improvement around the circle, besides toilets block for men and women and changing rooms. Similar infrastructure is proposed at the Benaulim beach in additional to creation of facility of vehicular parking. The GTDC official further said that the department will create toilet facilities along the beach belt worth Rs seven crore, with each toilet block costing Rs 1.5 crore.
Domestic tourists and visitors, who visited the world famous Colva beach to usher in the New Year, had no other option but to answer nature's call right on the beach with the promised toilets along the Colva-Benaulim beach stretch yet to take shape till date.
Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) officials, however, said work on the Rs 13.87 crore development project for Colva and Benaulim, including toilet blocks at the two beaches, should hopefully start by January end.
The GTDC had carried out the exercise of inspecting the beaches at Colva, Benaulim, besides Varca and Cavelossim, around two months ago to explore the possibility of creating additional infrastructure, including toilet blocks and changing rooms along the coastal belt.
Sadly, thousands of domestic tourists and visitors, who came to the two beaches to usher in the New Year have been left with no option than to answer nature's call right on the beach, either around the vegetation or the roads leading to the beach.
When The Goan contacted a technical official in the GTDC to shed light on the proposed infrastructure development at Benaulim and Colva, he pointed out that the process of issuing work order to the contractor has reached an advanced stage. "We have already opened the technical bids received from three bidders, of which one bid was rejected. The financial bids of remaining two contractors will be opened this week, followed by the issuance of the work order to the successful bidder," the official said.
The Rs 13.87 crore infrastructure development package for Colva beach includes beautification of the entire area, development of the long-neglected children's park, improvement around the circle, besides toilets block for men and women and changing rooms. Similar infrastructure is proposed at the Benaulim beach in additional to creation of facility of vehicular parking. The GTDC official further said that the department will create toilet facilities along the beach belt worth Rs seven crore, with each toilet block costing Rs 1.5 crore.
