A view of the iconic Margao municipal garden.
MARGAO
Three days after Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane sanctioned three major projects for Margao, the Margao Municipal Council on Wednesday approved all three projects, including the redevelopment of the iconic Margao Municipal Garden, a sports arena and, in principle, the establishment of the city’s second Automated Electro-Mechanical Above-Ground Parking System.
Margao Municipal Administrator Srinet Kothwale on Wednesday issued three separate orders granting in-principle approval for the three projects.
In the first approval, for the redevelopment of the existing Municipal Garden opposite the Margao Municipal Council building, Margao, the Administrator said the garden needed to be redeveloped with landscaping, beautification, illumination and modern public amenities through the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) under the Integrated Development of Major Towns (IDMT) Scheme or any other eligible government-funded or central scheme.
He said the MMC recognised the importance of developing, upgrading, maintaining and beautifying public parks, gardens and recreational spaces within its municipal jurisdiction, with a view to improving urban infrastructure, environmental quality, public convenience and the overall quality of life of Margao residents. “The existing Municipal Garden situated opposite the Margao Municipal Council building is an important public open space located within the central urban area of Margao. The garden serves as a recreational and community space for residents, senior citizens, children, visitors and the general public,” he said.
He added: “Considering the importance of such public spaces, there is a need to undertake systematic redevelopment, improvement, landscaping, beautification, illumination and augmentation of public amenities so as to enhance their utility, appearance, accessibility, safety and long-term sustainability.”
As far as the approval for the sports arena was concerned, the MMC Administrator gave his approval for the development of a multipurpose sports arena on land admeasuring 5,789 sq. m, comprising futsal courts, pickleball courts, a walking track, illumination and modern sports and recreational amenities, through GSUDA under the IDMT Scheme or any other eligible government-funded or central scheme.
Kothwale pointed out that a parcel of land admeasuring 5,789 sq. m, bearing Chalta No. 45 of P.T. Sheet No. 281, had been acquired by the Public Works Department (PWD) through the Executive Engineer, Works Division VI (Roads-South), Fatorda, Goa. A no-objection certificate (NOC) for the development of sports infrastructure on the said land had been obtained by the Margao Municipal Council from the concerned authority, he said.
Considering the availability of the aforesaid land and the increasing need for organised sports and recreational facilities, the Administrator said the MMC had proposed to develop a modern multipurpose sports arena comprising futsal courts, pickleball courts, a walking/jogging track, illumination, seating arrangements, landscaping and other necessary public amenities.
The third proposal cleared by the Administrator was for an Automated Electro-Mechanical Above-Ground Parking System on approximately 1,500 sq. m of government land bearing Chalta No. 8 of P.T. Sheet No. 239, Margao, in the larger public interest.
“The Margao Municipal Council recognises the urgent need to augment and modernise public parking infrastructure within the municipal jurisdiction of Margao, particularly considering the increasing vehicular population, rapid commercial development, growing demand for organised parking facilities and the resultant traffic congestion within the city,” he said.
Considering that the property in question, admeasuring approximately 3,095 sq. m, was recorded in the name of the Chief Town Planner and categorised as government land, the MMC Administrator said the council proposed to utilise an area of approximately 1,500 sq. m from the property for the establishment of a modern Automated Electro-Mechanical Above-Ground Parking System, subject to obtaining the necessary consent, permission and approval from the concerned government authorities.
