PANAJI
In a move aimed at curbing the redevelopment of State’s traditional rural settlements, the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Board on Tuesday restricted construction on plots housing pre-1961 traditional houses, capping the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) at 40 per cent and prohibiting their structural demolition.
The policy directive, issued at a meeting of the TCP Board chaired by Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane, applies to pre-1961 traditional houses located on plots measuring 500 square metres or more and situated outside Outline Development Plan (ODP) areas.
The directive seeks to protect Goa’s traditional houses and the surrounding streetscape from redevelopment pressures while allowing only regulated construction on such properties. “The decision also involves giving protection to all such structures from demolition,” sources said.
“Under the new policy, structural demolition of the identified traditional houses will not be permitted. The government has stated that the measure is intended to safeguard Goa’s architectural identity and preserve the historical character of rural settlements,” sources said.
The directive comes amid increasing focus on protecting Goa’s traditional built heritage while balancing the demand for development in areas outside ODP jurisdictions.
