In a significant development, the High Court has imposed a four-week stay on the Outline Development Plans (ODPs) for five villages in Goa—Calangute, Candolim, Parra, Arpora, and Nagoa—effectively halting any permissions or construction activity based on these plans.
The court found that the ODPs were in violation of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, setting aside a government circular dated December 22, 2022, and an executive order issued on August 22, 2024.
With this order, all ODP-based planning permissions in the affected areas are suspended, pending further review. The stay is expected to have significant implications for ongoing and proposed construction projects in North Goa’s most rapidly urbanizing belt.
Legal experts note that the court's intervention reinforces the need for transparent and lawful planning procedures, especially in ecologically sensitive and tourism-driven regions.
Further hearings and a comprehensive review of the ODPs are expected after the four-week period.