With the Public Works Department (PWD) finally inviting bids for re pairs to the long-neglected Administracao building in Margao, comunidade au thorities in South Goa have raised concerns that their rights over the property must not be eroded in the process. The project, pegged at around Rs 2.11 crore, comes nearly ten years af ter the government first promised to restore the historic structure. While the tender notice calls for urgent maintenance and conservation, comunidade leaders say they had al ready offered to shoulder the financial responsibility for the works. Advocate Savio Corriea, general secretary of the South Goa Comunidade Fo rum and president of the Margao, Aquem, Davorlim, and Dicarpale comuni dades, said their position was formally conveyed to the government through the district collector in Au gust 2024. “We had written to say we were prepared to fund the repairs and even deposit the estimated cost with the PWD. Unfortu nately, no response was re ceived,” he said. Attorney of the Nagoa comunidade, Joao Phil ip Pereira, recalled that a committee had been con stituted four years ago to examine the stability of the building. “The resolution then was to carry out the repairs in phases without government intervention. A survey was conducted, but after that the process stalled,” Pereira explained. For many stakeholders, safeguarding the architec tural character of the struc ture remains a priority. The Administracao building, with its distinctive Portu guese design features, has often been cited as need ing careful handling during restoration. “We had spe cifically asked the PWD to ensure the aesthetics are preserved. Earlier, a tender had been floated, but no contractor came forward,” a stakeholder said. Although comunidades function as independent entities, their resolutions are routed to the govern ment through the adminis trator and district collector. The current tender process has once again placed the ball in the state’s court. According to the notice issued by the Executive En gineer of the PWD (Build ings), Fatorda, the work is expected to take 300 days to complete. Contractors classified as Class I-B and above may apply, with an earnest money deposit of Rs 4.22 lakh required. Tender submissions close on Sep tember 22, and bids will be opened on September 24.
