PANAJI: The Congress has demanded the scrapping of the proposed International Convention Centre-cum-Convention Hotel project at Dona Paula, alleging that prime government land is being handed over for commercial exploitation under the public-private partnership model. Addressing a press conference, GPCC president Girish Chodankar questioned the project’s financial viability and public interest, claiming the potential commercial value of the land warranted scrutiny.
He pointed out that the 3.45 lakh-square-metre land parcel was leased to a Mumbai-based firm for Rs 108 crore for 60 years, against an indicative valuation of around Rs 5,100 crore. The project includes a 5,000-seat convention centre, a 300-room hotel and a multiplex, alongside luxury residential suites, retail and recreational facilities. Congress demanded disclosure of land-use details, approvals and clearances, and called for the tender to be scrapped and the land restored for an IT habitat.
