PANAJI
More than two years after shelving the earlier plan, the State government has once again called for bids to develop the Rs 5,790-crore International Convention Centre–cum–Convention Hotel at Dona Paula under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The ambitious project, designed to accommodate 5,000 delegates, will come up on 2.84 lakh sq. mts of government land.
The Department of Public Private Partnership has issued a fresh Request for Proposal (RFP) for the project titled “Development of International Convention Centre cum Convention Hotel and Downstream Facilities at Dona Paula.” The facility will be executed under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) framework. Bids must be submitted by February 2, 2026.
The Convention Centre, first envisaged more than 15 years ago after Goa was declared the permanent venue for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), had earlier seen two rounds of unsuccessful bidding. Initially planned on 1 lakh sq. mtrs with an estimated cost of Rs 540 crore, the project could not take off despite two tender attempts.
Under the revised RFP, the upgraded proposal includes a full-fledged MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) complex, a 300-room convention hotel, and a four-screen multiplex with a minimum combined seating of 800. Additionally, the master plan features a Concert and Events Ground capable of hosting up to 30,000 people, making it one of the largest event venues in the region.
According to the tender document, the development aims to firmly establish Goa as a high-end MICE destination by combining world-class infrastructure with premium hospitality, leisure, and entertainment components.
The mandatory convention facilities will be supported by a range of downstream amenities permitted under prevailing planning regulations. The project is expected to become a landmark for Goa, significantly boosting tourism, generating employment, and enhancing the State’s economic profile.
The PPP department pointed out that Goa currently lacks a dedicated large-capacity convention facility and that its potential in the MICE tourism sector remains largely untapped. Existing venues like the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium fall short in terms of modular design and accessibility, the department noted.
The land earmarked for the project, measuring 2,84,775 sq mts, is government-owned and will be leased to the selected concessionaire once the Concession Agreement is signed.
The current proposal draws from a study prepared by transaction advisors Knight Frank in November 2020. When the State first invited bids in December 2020, two companies responded and a Letter of Award (LoA) was issued to the winning bidder. However, the award had to be cancelled in January 2021 due to the bidder’s failure to furnish the required performance security.
A second attempt in May 2022 attracted five bids, and an LoA was once again issued. However, this too was terminated in July 2023 after the selected bidder did not comply with key conditions, including forming the special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the concessionaire and submitting the performance security.
