The St Anthony's Chapel alongside the NH66 highway was demolished on June 24, 2024.
Photo Credits: The Goan
PANAJI
It was a religious structure built over 460 years ago and yet, when the historic St Anthony's Chapel was earmarked for removal as part of ongoing construction work on the elevated corridor in Porvorim, the Catholic community in the locality accepted that the need for public development outweighed religious sentiments.
As such, when the St Anthony's Chapel alongside the NH66 highway and located close to the Our Lady of Candelaria Chapel in Socorro was razed on June 24, 2024, there was no uproar or unrest over the demolition.
A plaque at the St Anthony's Chapel, locally known as the Kasnichem Kopel, stated that the Chapel was built in 1558 when the first Christians of Porvorim were baptised by the Franciscan missionaries. Devotees would regularly pray and light candles at the Chapel. Nearby parishioners would also pray in the Chapel every Tuesday.
Fr Urbino Monteiro, a retired priest who lives in the area, had earlier told 'The Goan' that the demolition of St Anthony's Chapel, had been inevitable and that, the Catholic community in the locality had been aware of the situation. “We knew it (demolition) would happen someday as traffic began to increase along the highway. For several years, there had been plans to widen the existing highway and the demolition of the Chapel had been anticipated,” said Fr Monteiro.
“The elevated corridor was a recent project, but even then, we were aware that the Chapel would be demolished as part of work on the elevated corridor,” said Fr Monteiro.
In 2023, there was a meeting and the Our Lady of Candelaria Chapel committee had been informed about plans to demolish the St Anthony's Chapel. Tourism Minister and local MLA Rohan Khaunte met the locals and assured them to rebuild the Chapel at some other suitable place and advised the residents to suggest the place.
A new St Anthony's Chapel has been planned nearby on government land allotted opposite the Mahindra showroom and construction work is presently underway. “Many people are satisfied with the present location of the new Chapel,” said Fr Monteiro.
Executive Engineer (NH), PWD, Jude Carvalho recently stated that the historic St Anthony's Chapel was relocated amicably for the highway project. “The chapel committee readily agreed to shift the structure for public development. Their cooperation made the process smooth,” he had said.
