the goan I network
MARGAO
Award-winning architect, urban designer and city planner, Vinayak Bharne on Saturday said that right exploitation of public spaces can act as a catalyst and infuse life in a city, even as he asserted that there ought to be separate planning for the villages and that development should be not be detrimental to the ecology.
Deputy Chief Minister and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai said the government would rope in Bharne to plan for
the State.
Goa has all the characteristics of becoming a model state for the rest of the world.
Born in Goa, but now based in Los Angeles, Bharne delivered a talk on Future of Goa’s planning at the Black Box, Ravindra Bhavan as part of the ongoing Goa Heritage Festival said that developing public spaces can provide a new model of sustainable planning in Goa. “The easiest way to plan a city is to change the public space. We have to take intelligent decision. Just imagine a street becomes a most beautiful part of the city. It can act as an economic catalyst,” he said, adding that Goa has all the characteristics of becoming a model state for the rest of the world.
Saying that public space can be a very important trigger for development, Bharne said that the government can build on that by getting private investment. “What the government needs to do is not effect a change in the entire city. Government along with experts need to figure out which space is precious before taking up pilot projects,” he added.
On protection of heritage, Bharne said that heritage is not only conserving buildings, but the nature as well. “The most important component of heritage is its nature. If you want to preserve heritage, the most important component is the nature. There’s no point in talking about heritage if the creeks are lying dirty,” he added.
Asked to comment on the Smart City project, he said Smart City is a big world, one side is the political agenda, and the other issues of planning. “No doubt, we need smart cities, but we want the development sustainable. We have to approach any issue in layers and not imposed from the top,” he added.
Replying to a question, Bharne said as a Goan, who has lived in Goa for 23 years and have worked abroad for as many years, would love to take up any assignment if asked by the government.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Town & Country Planning, Vijai Sardesi said that Bharne is a right man who could guide the government to take up urban revival in the State and how Goa should evolve. “I am of the opinion that we should use such a talented Goan to change the course and take Goa forward. I want to use Bharne’s services especially in Fatorda, which has rural-urban features and is transforming with the slew of projects mooted by me in the constituency,” he said, adding ‘let the planning start from Fatorda. Goa cannot be Gurgaon. Fatorda is cosmopolitan and also rural. Let there be a balanced development’.
Saying that Margao is the State’s commercial capital and Salcete the heart of
Goa, Sardesai said let an eminent Goan architect, who has worked planned cities such as Panama, be an author to
prepare the Goa model of
development.
