PANJIM: The State Cabinet on Wednesday approved the transfer of land measuring 1.89 lakh sq mtrs to Goa Cricket Association (GCA) for construction of an international cricket stadium at Dhargal in Pernem taluka. The government also dropped the sports city plan proposed at Dhargal.
Addressing media persons after the cabinet meeting, Sports Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar said the stadium will have a sitting capacity of 50,000 people.
“The stadium will be constructed by GCA and it will be funded by BCCI. GCA has assured to construct the stadium within three years from the commencement of work,” Azgaonkar said, even as cabinet has granted ten years time for the completion of the project.
Asked about the fate of the sports city, the Minister said the government has dropped the plan. “We are not going ahead with sports city. The balance sports city land will be given for construction of Ravindra Bhavan,” he said. The sports city was meant to host sporting infrastructure, ostensibly for the National Games.
Speaking about the project, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said that the project will be built on revenue sharing formula, wherein five percent of the revenue collected under commercial activities by GCA will have to be given to the State government along with 2000 passes.
“We have given ten years period for completion of the project. The land has been leased out for 33 years at a total price of Rs 19 crore,” he said.
The government owns the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, which is now mostly used to host football matches. The stadium has in the past hosted international cricket matches. There have been demands for a cricket stadium in North Goa for a long time.
