A senior official from the Panjim Post Office has confirmed that the city’s historic post office building—classified as a heritage structure—requires extensive repairs, but procedural constraints are delaying progress.
The disclosure came in response to queries about the timeline for restoring a damaged section of the ceiling, where tiles have fallen away, leaving the building in an unsightly condition.
The official explained that while temporary repairs are currently underway under the supervision of the Public Works Department (PWD), permanent restoration can only proceed with approval from the relevant central government agencies responsible for heritage properties.
“This is a heritage building. It can be repaired according to specific government rules but cannot be repurposed for commercial use, such as food outlets or banking,” the official clarified. He added that coordination is ongoing with central agencies in Delhi and Mumbai, including the General Post Office (GPO), to finalise restoration plans.
The cost of securing maintenance materials has also emerged as a significant hurdle. “Even simple things like a paper gate are turning out to be expensive,” the official noted. “We are trying to arrange a vendor pickup order from Delhi. But since it’s not nearby, the process is getting delayed.”
Despite the urgency posed by the monsoon season, the official—identified as Grover—stated that the department is proceeding as best it can within the current limitations.
Until the central authorities make a final decision, temporary repairs will continue to be carried out to ensure the building remains functional and safe.