Addressing the media, Vasco Congress leader Nandadeep Raut, along with party members Peter D’Souza, Nitin Chopdekar, councillor Priya Raut and residents, claimed that out of nearly 29,000 square metres of land earmarked for the project, around 18,000 square metres would be offered to the private project proponent.
Raut cautioned that such a proposal could open the door for a large-scale commercial development in the heart of Vasco.
“We are not against development, but handing over such a large portion of prime land to private players can result in a mega project that will put tremendous pressure on Vasco’s already stretched infrastructure,” he said.
He also raised objections to the recent municipal resolution proposing the allotment of around 9,000 square metres of HPCL land to Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited, alleging that the decision was taken without proper technical studies. “There are no detailed traffic or safety reports placed before the public. Decisions of this scale, taken in haste, can lead to a rise in accidents and create long-term issues for commuters,” Raut stated.
Demanding transparency, Raut called on Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar to present a detailed plan of the project to the public. “People deserve clarity. Before moving ahead, a full presentation must be made so that citizens understand what is being planned in their city,” he said.
At the same time, Raut strongly stressed the need for a united and peaceful public movement to safeguard the land. “We appeal to all MLAs, elected representatives, and citizens of Vasco to come together and raise their voice peacefully. This is about protecting public land and ensuring development happens in the right manner,” he said.
He further urged the government to stick to the earlier plan of constructing a KTC bus stand along with a depot and administrative building spread across the area, instead of adopting a PPP model. “The earlier plan served public interest. The new proposal risks handing over valuable land for commercial use,” he added.
Warning of action within two days , Raut said that if concerns are not addressed and a clear plan is not presented, a large peaceful protest will be held on Wednesday, with participation from residents and public representatives.
