The JCB in action demolishing the old and dilapidated building housing iconic ‘Café Central’ at Chaudi, Canaocna.
CANACONA
The dilapidated building which housed the former ‘Café Central’ at the old bus-stand was finally demolished at Chaudi.
Operations at the Café Central had been stopped over more than a decade ago, after the old building was dilapidated and the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) had served a demolition notice of the building.
The iconic ‘Central Café’, which was just across the Margao bus stop on the NH66 highway and opposite the old bus stand at Chaudi, was initially operated by the late Babuso Naik, who used to serve tea and snacks, besides doubling up as a newspaper vendor for people from across Canacona takuka.
Two benches placed outside the hotel were often a place for political and other discussions in Canacona.
The hotel was later run by his son, until the building was declared unsafe for occupation and was shut down. On Monday, the CMC with the help of a JCB razed the dilapidated building, bringing to an end the decades-long history of the ‘Café Central’.
