VASCO
As monsoon clouds gather over Goa, a growing menace threatens the lives of residents across Mormugao taluka ” dozens of abandoned and dilapidated buildings that continue to rot in plain sight, becoming hubs for criminal activity and a ticking time bomb during the rains.
From the heart of Vasco city to remote areas like Baina and Zuarinagar, residents have repeatedly raised alarms about the state of these unsafe structures. Yet, meaningful government action remains elusive.
VASCO: Risk looming over pedestrians, shoppers
Within the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) limits, nearly 30 buildings have been flagged as structurally unsound ” many still in use, others abandoned but left open to the public. Some of these buildings house operational shops on the ground floors, drawing footfalls daily, while the upper floors remain visibly weakened with cracks, loose concrete, and exposed steel.
Despite multiple inspections and notices, the structures remain standing ” some over 45 years old. Locals say the danger multiplies during festivals like the Damodar Saptah, which attracts thousands to Vasco’s city centre. “We’ve had pieces of concrete fall dangerously close to pedestrians. One incident near the Vasco police station could have turned fatal,” said a municipal source. “Either owners ignore notices or tenants refuse to vacate.”
BAINA: PWD quarters hotspot for anti-social activity
In Baina, a cluster of old Public Works Department (PWD) staff quarters has become completely uninhabitable ” but the threat hasn’t disappeared. Locals say the abandoned buildings are now being misused by anti-social elements.
“These quarters should have been demolished long ago,” said a resident in the neighbourhood. “Instead, miscreants are occupying them. People are drinking, doing drugs, and there are fears that criminals may be using these spaces to hide after committing offences.”
Several residents claim to have filed complaints with the police, demanding the demolition of the buildings and the construction of new housing blocks. “These buildings are a security risk. We fear they’ll be used to hide crimes that may never even come to light,” said another resident.
ZUARINAGAR: Ghost market complex
In Zuarinagar, the long-abandoned market complex ” a project envisioned by former minister late Matanhy Saldanha and initiated by former CM late Manohar Parrikar in 2013 ” remains incomplete and neglected.
“This market was meant to provide proper facilities for vendors. Instead, it lies abandoned for nearly a decade,” said Goa Pradesh Youth Congress Working President Mahesh Nadar at the site. “Crores were spent on this project, and yet it’s being used by miscreants. People are drinking and using drugs here, putting local families at risk. Even after the chief minister visited the site, nothing has moved.”
He demanded the formation of a special committee to restart the project and increase police patrolling to curb misuse of the structure.
Urgent need for action, enforcement
Local leaders like Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar have raised the matter in the Assembly, urging demolitions or sealing of dangerous buildings. While one such building on Swatantra Path was taken down in May 2023 after years of complaints, most unsafe structures still stand.
Salkar has also pitched redevelopment under a public-private partnership (PPP) model and discussed plans with urban development authorities. Though proposals like the fish market and sports complex are underway, there's little movement on the housing front.
The government has tried to encourage redevelopment using incentives like a higher Floor Area Ratio (FAR) under new Special Planning Regulations (SPR), but progress remains slow due to legal disputes, ownership confusion, and a lack of trust among stakeholders.
Until then, the abandoned buildings of Mormugao continue to pose a serious risk ” not just as crumbling structures, but as breeding grounds for danger. If authorities fail to act decisively, the next heavy downpour or criminal activity could turn these forgotten ruins into the sites of avoidable tragedies.
