OLD GOA: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar along with officials of the police and the traffic cell, held a close-door meeting with Church authorities at the Bom Jesus Basilica on Saturday, to chalk out a strategy for next year’s Exposition of the body of St Francis Xavier from November 22, 2014, to January 4, 2015.
The meeting, which lasted more than an hour, was attended by Bom Basilica Rector Fr Savio Barretto, Diocesan Pastoral Secretariat Executive Secretary Fr Anthony Fernandes, SP Bosco George, DySP Mahesh Gaonkar, CCP Commissioner Sanjith Rodrigues, Old Goa PI Keshav Sinari, Traffic Cell PI Dharmesh Angle and others.
Speaking to Herald after the meeting, Fr Barretto confirmed that the meeting was held to chalk out strategy for the smooth conduct of the Exposition, which will be held next year.
“The meet particularly laid thrust on the creation of additional infrastructure to cater to the needs of devotees attending the Exposition, with a particular focus on widening of roads and creation of more parking zones to ensure smooth flow of traffic,” Fr Barreto said.
“The chief minister has assured that in the next six months, the government will focus on road-widening work in Old Goa and also to identify areas for developing more parking spaces. Participants at the meet also felt that there is a need to freeze development activities within 600 metres of the heritage monuments,” he added.
Meanwhile, Fr Barreto informed that the formation of committees to chalk out a master plan for the Exposition is in the initial stages.
“There will be a main committee, further divided into sub-committees. These committees will work on the plan to make arrangements for accommodation, organisation of liturgy services, organisation of media events, launching of magazines and various other activities,” he said.
