With missed deadlines, uncertainty looms over several projects held up in Porvorim

The new market complex is one of the incomplete projects in Porvorim.

PORVORIM

Missed deadlines have become a common feature for several ambitious projects in Porvorim which are still lying incomplete and faced with an uncertain future.

According to sources, work at many projects such as the new market complex at Alto-Betim, Socorro sports complex, science park, art park, water treatment plant, fire station, high court complex, new garden near Delfino’s in Porvorim constituency have virtually come to a standstill.

These projects were scheduled to have been completed by now but they are still incomplete and uncertainty continues to prevail on the date of completion.

“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had recently inaugurated the new market complex at Bicholim but he does not seem to be bothered about completion of the new market complex at Porvorim, the foundation stone for which was laid by former CM late Manohar Parrikar in February 2013,” said Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte.

“Late Parrikar had then assured that this project would be completed within 18 months. It is over 6 years now that the fate of this project is hanging in the balance. The shutters of shops and offices at the market complex have corroded. Shopkeepers at the old market in Housing Board have been eagerly awaiting the completion of this project since the old market is on the verge of collapse.”

“I had written the Goa Housing Board chairman Subhash Shirodkar on June 5, 2020 requesting a joint inspection of the new market, but I have still not received a reply from him,” added Khaunte.

Another project which is languishing is the sports complex at Socorro, work on which was started by Classic Construction in October 2013. Neither the construction company nor officials of Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation are prepared to indicate the date of completion.

The foundation stone for the new complex of the High Court of Bombay at Goa was laid by late Parrikar in the presence of then Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, Justice Mohit S Shah at Porvorim on December 20, 2013.

“Sawant during his visit to the High Court complex in November 2019 had stated that the building would be ready by March 31. Work on this building and the approach road is still going on and there is no official indication as yet as to when this project will be inaugurated,” said Khaunte.

The Porvorim MLA also stated that residents of Porvorim constituency had been eagerly awaiting the completion of the 15 MLD Water Treatment Plant at Porvorim.

“If this project is completed soon, the water shortage problem of residents will be solved to a great extent,” he said.

“The speed at which works on these projects are going on appears that none of these projects will be completed this year. All these projects were started when I had become MLA of Porvorim constituency. Had these projects been completed, Porvorim would have been an ideal constituency in the State,” said Khaunte.