With the decennial Exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier exactly a month away, there is no visible sign of the preparatory work being undertaken at Old Goa. This fact has been substantiated by residents of Old Goa that the work promised by the government has not yet commenced or going on at snail's pace. However, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira who also is the Deputy Chairman of the Exposition Secretariat Committee has reportedly said that all the government-assured infrastructure works at Old Goa will be completed by November 10. Incidentally the Diocese of Goa and Daman expects 70 lakh to 1 crore pilgrims to participate in the decennial event. It is pertinent to note that the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has committed Rs 200 crore for the infrastructure development at Old Goa. It is pertinent to note that besides the infrastructural development at Old Goa per se, the road infrastructure leading to Old Goa, which is in a pathetic state, needs to be repaired on a war footing. Devotees coming from various states in the country and across the globe should not have a bad road experience.
