VASCO: ‘Pilot Point’, a tourist spot at Headland Sada on the way to the Mormugao port, needs immediate attention. Once a favourite place for the local children, senior citizens and tourists, the ‘Pilot Point’ has now become a safe haven for the miscreants and drunkards at night.

Around 25-30 years ago, when the tourism in Goa was picking up speed, a stretch of area including the ‘Pilot Point’ at Headland Sada was developed into tourist spots. And till recently, ‘Pilot Point’ was visited by both domestic and foreign tourists.

However, due to negligence by the authorities, the place has become dilapidated with liquor bottles, cans, plastic and other waste strewn all over the place making the place ugly. The place also lacks waste bins and streetlights to illuminate the spot at night.

Harishchandra Harmalkar, a local senior citizen, said that the ‘Pilot Point’ was a major attraction for the people from Headland Sada and from other places. Tourist were frequenting this place to have a wider ‘eagle eye view’ of the Arabian sea, Dona Paula, St Jacinto, port activities, new cruise ships and other ships. “My kids and I used to visit the place at night some years back and the kids use to enjoy the light moving from the lighthouse, lights of the ship and fresh breeze here,” he said.

Umesh Shetye, another Sada resident, said that the ‘Pilot Point’ was developed in the mid 80s and it became a popular among children. “This spot is such that standing from this spot, a person can get the view of berth number 1 to berth number 10. People could see iron ore plant at berth number 3, barge loading and other port trust activities, new cruise ship arrival and other international ships from Pilot Point. But sadly over the years it has been neglected,” Shetye said.

Shyam, a shopkeeper from Headland Sada, said that in his adulthood days he and his friends would spend time chatting, enjoying the beautiful view in the evening from Pilot Point. “But now the situation is different; nobody goes there. Before Pilot Point was on the bucket list of the tourists but now hardly any tourist bus come to see Pilot point due to its condition,” he lamented.

It is pertinent to note that during his recent visit to Goa AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal met his supporters at Pilot Point.