the goan I network
MAPUSA
For long, big-ticket development projects has been eluding the city of Mapusa. A lot of promises were made in the past but they were confined only on paper (read manifesto).
With Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant taking over as the CEO of the State and after the election of Joshua D’Souza as the new MLA of Mapusa there was huge expectation that projects which were stuck would finally come to fruition.
Several projects have also received in-principle sanction from the government raising hopes that infrastructure development will now get a shot in the arm.
From new bus-stand to market redevelopment plan and four-lane Tar Bridge to underground power cabling, the capital of Bardez has been yearning for change. The Goan brings a low down of several projects that have received government nod but are stuck at different levels for reasons best known to the government.
RE-DEVELOPMENT OF MARKET
The refurbishment of the Portuguese-era market in Mapusa got a boost after former chief minister, Manohar Parrikar made a provision of Rs 20 crore as a special grant in his 2017 budget.
The government had also appointed a consultant, who had drawn up a plan to rejuvenate the market in two phases.
As per the plan, the renovation of first three lanes “ cloth merchants lane, Dangui Opticians lane, Café Corner lane and the two extreme side lanes (one adjacent to the KTC bus-stand and the other adjacent to the fish market) in the market will be taken up in the first phase.
The development of the area housing flower market and the shops around it and the land housing Paradise Pharmacy
will be taken up in the second phase. As per plans the existing market will get a roof cover without carrying out any major demolition to the existing structures.
The existing structures in the market will be upgraded and a host of utility services like electrical, plumbing, telephones etc will be moved underground.
As per the plan vendor space has been demarcated and a dedicated pedestrian space has also been created.
It may be recalled MMC had given a go-ahead to the re-development plan in January 2018.
In May this year, Mapusa Chairperson, Ryan Braganza had said the government had sanctioned an amount of Rs 20 crore and work on the renovation was expected to start within the next three to four months.
NEW BUS-STAND
MAPUSA: The State government has plans to construct a new bus-stand at an estimated cost of around Rs 200 crore, which will come up on an area of around 19,000 sq mt.
The Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) had prepared the estimates and design of the project and forwarded it to the transport department, an official in the know informed. The government has also provisionally approved the construction plan. It may be recalled in the first phase land-filling of the acquired area for the bus-stand was taken up in 2015 at an estimated cost of Rs 1.32 crore. In phase two, a 25-metre wide road was supposed to be constructed connecting the new bus-stand to the NH17 (now NH 66) about 200 metres before the Mapusa-Bastora junction. Phase three included construction of new bus-stand and converting the present bus-stand into a parking lot.
Soon after his election, Mapusa MLA, Joshua D’Souza said his top priority would be construction of new bus-stand in Mapusa.
Transport Minister, Mauvin Godinho had also said on the floor of the House in the monsoon session that the foundation stone for the new bus-stand would be laid on October 4, the birthday of late Francisco D’Souza, former Mapusa MLA.
