PANJIM: Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has questioned the Corporation of City of Panaji’s (CCP) claim that it has not approached the civic body for obtaining necessary permission to go ahead with the ropeway project connecting Panjim to Reis Magos.
GTDC Chairman Nilesh Cabral said that seeking approvals from the related authorities will follow only after the modalities of the project are finalized. “The model is based on Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) basis. As of now, we have floated an e-tender. Neither are the project designs ready nor has any bidder been selected. Once the bidder is chosen, he will draft the design which will be shared with CCP and Reis Magos panchayat, Comunidade and other concerned authorities for views and suggestions,” Cabral told Herald.
The CCP, in its ordinary meeting last Friday, had resolved to write to the government stating that it cannot be bypassed for city projects not highlighted in its holistic development plan. CCP Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues had said the corporation had not yet received the ropeway proposal.
Cabral stated that the project design will be finalized when all the related agencies come to a consensus. “All of them will be taken into confidence before finalizing the design,” he added.
He also mentioned the GTDC will move CCP and other concerned agencies for approvals once the details are ready.
According to the proposal, the completion of the aerial river tramway project will take one year to one-and-a-half years once the contract is awarded. It will have a capacity to carry 30 and 40 cable cars transporting 1,000-odd passengers to the Reis Magos Fort from Campal.
