PANAJI
Councillor Jack Sukhija on Thursday questioned the State government’s proposal to redevelop the historic Junta House site into a hotel and casino, urging authorities to instead use the property for a multi-storey parking facility.
Addressing a press conference outside the building, Sukhija said the government-owned property in the heart of Panaji should be used to meet public needs rather than for commercial development.
“Should commercial interests take priority over civic amenities? The answer is no. Citizens have made their views clear. They do not want a casino and hotel in the centre of Panaji,” he said.
He said the centrally located site could help address the city’s growing parking and traffic problems.
Panaji is already facing heavy congestion, frequent double parking and a shortage of parking spaces.
Sukhija proposed that most of the area be developed as a paid multi-storey parking facility.
He suggested incorporating features such as vertical gardens, an event space, the retention of the observatory, and centres for youth training and urban farming.
Built in the mid-1960s, the six-storey Junta House served as a major administrative complex and also housed an astronomy centre, making it an important post-Liberation landmark.
Long-time resident Eliath Fernandes, who also addressed the media, said residents face severe traffic congestion every day.
“Junta House offers an excellent opportunity to create a facility that benefits the public. A multi-storey parking complex is the need of the hour,” he said.
