PORVORIM
Revenue Minister and local MLA Rohan Khaunte now hopes to complete the project by May 2018.
Acute shortage of funds and a change in plans have been attributed for the delay in the project, which is the only market complex proposed for Porvorim plateau.
"Now, all these issues have been sorted out. About 70% work of the market complex has been completed and the remaining 30% work will be completed within the next eight months. The playground will be completed within two months," said Khaunte.
Revenue Minister and local MLA Rohan Khaunte now hopes to complete the project by May 2018.
Acute shortage of funds and a change in plans have been attributed for the delay in the project, which is the only market complex proposed for Porvorim plateau.
"Now, all these issues have been sorted out. About 70% work of the market complex has been completed and the remaining 30% work will be completed within the next eight months. The playground will be completed within two months," said Khaunte.
>The foundation stone for the market complex was laid in February 2013 and work started in March 2014. The officials of Housing Board had assured that the project would be completed within 18 months.
When the project missed a number of deadlines, concerned shopkeepers from the old market had submitted a memorandum to former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte. They requested the government to expedite work on the project and to shift them to the new market as the old market was in a bad condition.
Asked to justify the prolonged delay of the market complex, Khaunte said the project was initially delayed due to paucity of funds with the Goa Housing Board.
"Later, I had suggested some changes in the plan, due to which there was a further delay in execution of the project," said Khaunte.
"The contractor has done external plumbing outside the building, but I had suggested concealed plumbing for the project." Khaunte said he had also directed the contractor to scrap plans for a marriage hall and to, instead, make provision for an auditorium.
Justifying his decision, Khaunte said: "A provision for a marriage hall was made in the plan. There are many marriage halls in Porvorim and a few more are in the pipeline. If a marriage hall is provided in the new market complex, it will create a parking problem in the housing board area."
"Hence, I suggested an auditorium for programmes instead of a big marriage hall," said Khaunte. "I also suggested that 30% of the shops should be reserved for locals."
When the project missed a number of deadlines, concerned shopkeepers from the old market had submitted a memorandum to former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte. They requested the government to expedite work on the project and to shift them to the new market as the old market was in a bad condition.
Asked to justify the prolonged delay of the market complex, Khaunte said the project was initially delayed due to paucity of funds with the Goa Housing Board.
"Later, I had suggested some changes in the plan, due to which there was a further delay in execution of the project," said Khaunte.
"The contractor has done external plumbing outside the building, but I had suggested concealed plumbing for the project." Khaunte said he had also directed the contractor to scrap plans for a marriage hall and to, instead, make provision for an auditorium.
Justifying his decision, Khaunte said: "A provision for a marriage hall was made in the plan. There are many marriage halls in Porvorim and a few more are in the pipeline. If a marriage hall is provided in the new market complex, it will create a parking problem in the housing board area."
"Hence, I suggested an auditorium for programmes instead of a big marriage hall," said Khaunte. "I also suggested that 30% of the shops should be reserved for locals."
