A new proposal put forth by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) aims to introduce a fixed-fee structure for beach weddings and coastal construction activities for the first time. The draft regulation, which was tabled and discussed during the GCZMA’s recent meeting, outlines a shift from single-event permissions to an extended approval system and standardised charges for various coastal projects. A final decision on the proposal has been deferred to the next session.
The proposal was tabled and discussed during the GCZMA’s recent meeting, though a final decision has been deferred to the next session.
If approved, the move will allow event organisers to host up to 40 beach weddings over a period of three years by paying a one-time fee of Rs 7 lakh. These permissions will be specific to a particular stretch of beach chosen by the applicant — a feature not available under the current per-event approval model.
The plan also sets out a tiered fee structure for one-off beach events, depending on how early the application is filed. Applications submitted at least seven days in advance will be charged Rs 50,000 for five-day permission, while those submitted between three to seven days prior will attract a fee of Rs 60,000, and so on. An additional charge of Rs 10,000 per day will apply if the event runs beyond the initial 5-day window.
Applicants seeking changes to their submitted plans would have to pay a scrutiny fee of Rs 70,000. However, exemptions have been proposed for government departments, corporations, autonomous bodies, educational institutions, registered charitable trusts and sporting events.
The new proposal doesn’t stop at events. For the first time, the GCZMA is also proposing fees for a wide range of coastal construction and infrastructure projects. A charge of Rs 5 lakh is being recommended for CRZ clearance to construct bridges, with a plan revision scrutiny fee of Rs 50,000. Permissions for culverts, flood protection walls and similar works would attract a flat Rs 50,000 charge.
Temporary installations — such as decks, security cabins and watchtowers — are set to be charged at Rs 350 per square metre, a category that previously faced no such fees. Construction of new casino vessels would be subject to a rate of Rs 200 per square metre.
Interestingly, the new proposal also includes a fee reduction for hotel projects, suggesting a decrease in the current rate from Rs 1,250 per square metre of built-up area to Rs 500. Additionally, applications related to petroleum infrastructure — such as storage or sale of fuel along the coast — would now fall under the fee structure, with a charge of Rs 500 per square metre being proposed for the first time.