TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Goa Circle, has finally granted the Ports Administration the long awaited approval for demolishing the existing jetty at Old Goa and to replace it with a new one which will facilitate berthing of various marine vessels.
The proposed new jetty is expected to give a big boost to pilgrimage tourism and inland water vessel services at a time when the government had talked about intentions to popularise water transport and increasing routes for river water transportation to decongest Goa’s roadways.
The work has been entrusted to the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) to construct the new jetty and work has begun with the appointment of a Pune based consultant who is scheduled to submit his report next month.
While the initial plan was to have a bigger jetty of 200 meters in length, the same is proposed to be re-designed as per the existing jetty of 55 meters and 10 meters breadth.
“The existing jetty is in a dilapidated condition and needs to be replaced with a new one,” said the Captain of Ports James Braganza.
The Ports Administration had first mooted the proposal for a new jetty way back in 2004. However the ASI, Goa, had raised several concerns on the same, as Old Goa is a heritage site. However the Heritage groups in Goa had allayed all fears and impressed on the ASI to grant the necessary permission.
The Ports Administration received the green nod in March this year and proceeded with plans for construction of the new jetty.
The Ports administration has decided to maintain the existing size which it opines will be adequate enough to cater to kinds of marine vessels.
Braganza said that the jetty will facilitate anchorage of cruise boats for tourism purpose and could be used for inland water transportation as well, which is being extensively explored by the RND ministry. Plans are to have the jetty ready by December 3, 2013.
Meanwhile, the new jetty under construction by the GSIDC for the Ports Administration in Panjim is 70 per cent complete. The new Jetty is expected to be ready within 3-4 months.
The Ports Administration had first mooted the proposal for a new jetty way back in 2004. However the ASI, had raised many concerns on the same, as Old Goa is a heritage site
