Margao – Hope Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant’s Announcement on Goa Bhavan in Ayodhya becomes a reality. Just want to remind the Chief Minister of the urgent need of Goa Bhavan in Mumbai; especially for Families of Cancer & Critical Patients and Upgrade and Maintenance of Goa Sadan & Goa Niwas in New Delhi, stated Congress MLA Altone D’ Costa.
Reacting to the Announcement made by the Chief Minster Dr. Pramod Sawant at Ayodhya of constructing Goa Bhavan, Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa said “Chief Minister has made many Announcements in the past which did not see the light of the day. The need of the hour is Construction of Goa Bhavan in Mumbai to provide benefit to the Goan Families visiting Mumbai with Critical Patients”.
Goa Government has closed Goa Bhavan at Juhu since August 2015 for Renovation & Refurbishment Work at an Estimated Cost of 4 crores. The stipulated date of Final Completion of the work was July 2022. Government informed the Goa Legislative Assembly in January 2023 that the said work will be completed by 31st March 2023. We are now in February 2024 and there is no sign when the Goa Bhavan will be opened, pointed Altone D’ Costa.
Goa Government has already allotted almost 22 Crores at the disposal of Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) towards Purchase of Plot at Vashi in New Mumbai and Payment of Property Tax and other Fees to CIDCO & New Mumbai Municipal Corporation. Unfortunately, Government is yet to get all approvals and commence the work, informed Altone D’ Costa.
The Process of Construction of Goa Bhavan at Mumbai was initiated by the Congress Government in 1992 and an Amount of 2.57 crores was paid to CIDCO for execution of the Lease of two Plots at Vashi admeasuring 4000 square metres in 1997. An Estimate of 28.67 crores was prepared for the Project in 2011. However BJP Government after coming to power in 2012 failed to expedite the Project as the priority of the Government shifted to organising Events, charged Altone D’ Costa.
Government has prepared an Estimate of 25.52 crores for Repair & maintenance of Goa Niwas at Chanakyapuri and an Estimate of 8.45 crores is prepared for Renovation of Goa Sadan in New Delhi. Both these Estimates are awaiting approval from the Government for last many months. The Condition of Goa Sadan is deteriorating causing inconvenience to the Visitors. The Situation at Goa Niwas is also bad. Government must immediately start the Renovation work, demanded Altone D’ Costa.
It is high time that the BJP Government shows some Sensitivity towards Goans who visit Navi Mumbai & New Delhi especially for Medical and Educational Career visits. It is the responsibility of the Government to prioritize the Construction of New Goa Bhavan in Mumbai by curtailing Expenditure on Events and Celebrations, stated Altone D’ Costa.
