After missing several deadlines and inaugural postponement, the multi-level pay parking facility seems to be stuck at the last hurdle — the occupancy certificate from the Corporation of City of Panaji.
Once the occupancy is availed from CCP the State government is likely to commission the building in September. However, an official announcement on the launch date and the parking fees is yet to be made.
Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) Chairman Nilesh Cabral told Herald said the facility would be commissioned “shortly.”
“All the formalities and works have been completed and we are now only awaiting the occupancy from the CCP,” he said.
Cabral said all the issues related to power connection, elevators etc have been sorted and the Corporation is only awaiting CCP certificate.
“We have submitted the file around a month now and awaiting their reply,” he said.
However, CCP Commissioner Deepak Desai said that the GTDC is yet to complete the documentation.
“I haven’t received the file as yet as it is still with the Engineering Department, which looks after completion of documentation,” he said.
Further, he added, “there were lot of documents to be forwarded by the GTDC, which were mandatory.”
He said once all the documentation and formalities are complete we will issue the occupancy clearance.
Apart from the formalities, Herald understands most of the work on the facility is completed and only part of the external beautification around the structure still need to be completed.
Sources claim the infrastructure is nearly ready with only minor works and a portion of external beautification pending.
“The state-of-the-art-facility will most likely be commissioned from August,” the source said.
The Rs 90-crore project, undertaken to develop tourism-related requirements under the ‘Integrated Development of Infrastructure for Heritage and Hinterland Tourism’, will accommodate around 550 vehicles at the ground plus three levels, terrace and the open space outside the building. “If there is still some space left, two wheelers can also be accommodated for parking,” the source said.
The two elevators for passengers and toilet facility besides other basic requirements like CCTVs, adequate lightning, monitoring and security are almost in place. Officials stated that they have decided to roughly impose a Rs 20-25 fee per vehicle although the tariff is yet to be officially declared.
The construction had started about two and half years ago by project consultant and contractor Lotus Environments, Pune and M Venkata Rao Infra Projects Pvt Ltd respectively on an area of over 13,000 sq mtrs.
