Calls for audit of several projects under agency across State
THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane has recently called for an audit of several projects undertaken by the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) across the State, even as two major projects in Mapusa, collectively valued at Rs 24 crore, have missed multiple completion deadlines.
The first project involves the construction of a six-floor commercial complex near Alankar Theatre in Angod-Mapusa, with an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore.
Launched by GSUDA in 2019, the project was initially slated for completion within 18 months.
However, progress was significantly slowed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite several revised deadlines, the latest of which was March 2024, the project remains incomplete.
The complex is designed to house seven shops on the ground floor, 14 on the first floor, and offices on the remaining five floors, with parking provision for 52 cars in the basement.
This project was initiated during the tenure of former Urban Development Minister Milind Naik.
The second delayed project is the renovation and restoration of the old Mapusa municipal building, which is intended to be converted into a modern library at a cost of Rs 3.8 crore.
The renovation, which began in November 2022, was expected to be completed within six months.
However, like the commercial complex, this project has also missed several deadlines, the most recent being January 2024.
The library is planned to occupy the entire ground floor of the heritage building, with dedicated sections for various reading facilities, including a special area for senior citizens.
The project includes re-roofing, structural repairs, re-plastering, painting, tile flooring, and furniture installation.
A senior GSUDA official cited several reasons for the delays, including legal challenges from a tenant who approached the High Court, which contributed to the commercial project's hold-up.
Additionally, a senior bureaucrat from the finance department suggested that slow government payments, influenced by the fiscal situation, could have led to cost overruns.
Despite the setbacks, a GSUDA official assured that both projects would be completed and handed over to the Mapusa Municipal Council by the end of October.
Rane has expressed concern over irregularities within the department, leading to the suspension of an accounts officer.
He emphasised the need for an audit to investigate the works undertaken by the agency, particularly those that have not produced tangible results.
“I don’t understand what’s going on in the department. Most of the projects were tendered before I became the minister. There is a need for an investigation,” Rane stated.
