The structure housing the Old Goa police station covered with plastic to prevent leakage of the roof.
Photo Credits: Manuel Vaz
OLD GOA
It’s been a year since the foundation stone for a new building for Old Goa police station was laid, but it has yet to see the light of the day despite assurances made that the new building would be completed in a year’s time.
It may be recalled that the foundation stone for the new building was laid by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on September 18, 2023, which coincided with the birthday of Cumbarjua MLA Rajesh Faldessai. Also present were Social Welfare Minister and Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai, Saligao MLA Kedar Naik, Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye and others.
The building was supposed to have stilt parking, ground and first floors, and the project was estimated to cost around Rs 3.5 crore.
Sawant had assured at the time that the building would be completed in a year’s time, just ahead of the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier.
However, a year later, work on the building is yet to start and with the Exposition to be held from November 21, it is virtually impossible that work will start any time soon.
In fact, with the monsoon season underway, the structure housing the police station is covered with plastic sheets to prevent leakage of the roof.
The barracks are also in shambles and the police personnel, particularly those on night duty, have to make up with the poor facilities available.
The space inside the police station is also cramped with those coming at the police station to lodge complaints not having enough sitting arrangements.
The cabin of the PI is so cramped that when any issue involving groups happens then there is no space to accommodate many persons.
The lack of parking space also plagues the police station as vehicles which are either involved in mishaps or in commission of crime have to be parked on the busy road.
The existing police station will be considered inadequate and ill-equipped to cater to several lakhs of devotees and tourists expected to visit Old Goa for the Exposition between November 21 and January 5, 2025.
The Old Goa police station covers a vast area which includes four constituencies, namely St Cruz, Cumbarjua, and parts of Bicholim and Panaji.
And from St Cruz constituency, there are certain areas of Chimbel, Santa Cruz and Merces which are considered sensitive.
Further, there are two islands namely Divar and Chorao which also fall within the jurisdiction of Old Goa where the police can reach only by ferries thereby further making the task of policing difficult.
