The wait for Campal-Reis Magos aerial river tramway could get longer with every likelihood the project might hit controversies again. As the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) awaits for the next Investment Promotion Board meeting to request Chairman, who incidentally is Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, to clear the project; the City Corporation of Panaji (CCP), however, is hell-bent on not granting any permission to the project.
The ropeway project, expected to be based on Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT), is in limbo since last year, months after the then Goa government floated an e-tender inviting applications from across the world. According to the proposal, the completion of the Rs 157-odd crore project will take maximum one-and-a-half years. However, even after the bidder from Jammu & Kashmir was awarded the contract, the tourism project continues to be in limbo.
GTDC Chairman Nilesh Cabral said they will propose the IPB to soon declare Campal and Reis Magos as investment promotion area so as to facilitate carrying out further procedures.
“I will request the IPB Chairman to expedite process for granting permission for the project by declaring the places as investment promotion area. Only thereafter, we can approach the Town & Country Planning, the village panchayat of Reis Magos and Corporation of City of Panaji for respective approvals,” he said.
The BJP legislator emphasised that the GTDC has been regularly following up with the government over the project’s approval.
However, the CCP has once again raised objection in giving its green signal to the project in the capital. “Enough is enough! There are already developments taking place under Smart City Mission and AMRUT scheme. I will not allow further damage of Panjim city. No ropeway will be allowed here,” Mayor Surendra Furtado commented.
The GTDC has insisted the ropeway is a green project ensuring no damage would be done to the environment. With delays after delays, the GTDC is also bearing the loss even as the company – which is awarded the contract – would repay the amount once the work commissions. “We are paying Rs 7 lakh to the Comunidade of Reis Magos every year since we have already signed an agreement… Nevertheless, the company will reimburse the amount to us as the entire project cost is borne by them,” he said expressing concern over repeated objections to the proposal.
The project was first caught in controversy when the CCP refused permission last year arguing it would further congest the capital. Furtado has warned to approach the High Court if the project is allowed in the city.
In October 2016, the City Corporation of Panaji, in its ordinary meeting, witnessed a stormy discussion when some councilors sought to know if the ropeway project had obtained permission. They pointed out at the soil testing by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) team. Mayor Furtado then refused granting any permission and his panel proposed that a notice be issued to the GTDC.
An angry Mayor had even commented that CCP is projected as an agency to clean drains and lift garbage despite having other powers too. “Government is bypassing us on every developmental work proposed in Panjim,” Furtado had said adding, “The resolution was also because the project would have an effect on the senior citizens.”
As per the proposal in 2015, the government decided that an area measuring around 5,000 sq mtrs of land belonging to Tourism Department and situated behind the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs be leased out to GTDC for 65 years based on the rent to be fixed by the Public Works Department (PWD).
The project, comprising of 40 mtrs building at Campal (near the swimming pool) and 11 mtrs building at Reis Magos, will have a supporting tower around 40 mtrs from the Fort. It will have a capacity to carry 30 and 40 cable cars transporting 1,000-odd passengers to the Reis Magos Fort from Campal.
