As the State Capital Panjim braces up to host yet another IFFI, Madgavkars seek to know the fate of the two multiplexes sanctioned for the town in the year the Commercial Capital had played host to the IFFI.
That was in 2011 when the IFFI, thanks to then Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, opened at Margao and then Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ambika Soni, had promised two multiplexes at the Ravindra Bhavan.
Work on the two multiplexes, estimated to cost Rs 18 crore, was to begin immediately thereafter with financial assistance from the Centre. But blame it on the change in political guard or otherwise, the two multiplexes are yet to see light of day.
Sources said the multiplex complex was planned and designed by the PWD in the open space in the sprawling Ravindra Bhavan complex. The PWD had designed the complex so as to make space for parking on the basement and the ground floor.
When Herald contacted the Chairman of Ravindra Bhavan, Damodar (Damu) Naik to shed light on the fate of the two multiplexes, he said Ravindra Bhavan’s Governing Council headed by him has given a nod for the two multiplexes in the complex.
“My Governing Council has no problem with the proposed multiplexes, but my biggest worry is the parking problem. Let the PWD or any other agency come out with a concrete plan for a multi-storey parking in the complex. As it is, parking is a problem already being faced by Ravindra Bhavan today,” Naik said.
At the last Governing Council meeting of the Ravindra Bhavan, it was decided to ask the government to take up the two multiplexes on top most priority, but the ground reality remains unchanged.
Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said the new government will be in a better position to explain the status of the two multiplexes.
“It is a fact that Ambika Soni had promised two multiplexes to Ravindra Bhavan at the time of the IFFI 2011 inauguration. In furtherance to the assurance, the PWD had even designed the project with inbuilt parking arrangements,” Kamat said
He recalled that he had once spoken to Naik to take advantage of the multiplexes sanctioned by the Centre, but in vain.
It was a fact that then
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni had gifted two state of the art multiplexes for Ravindra Bhavan. In that respect, the PWD had come out with a design and plan to build the multiplexes at the complex with proper parking arrangements. I had even spoken to Ravindra Bhavan Chairman Damu Naik to follow up the matter since the multiplexes were to benefit the people of Margao
– Digambar Kamat,
former Chief Minister
The Governing Council has given its nod for the construction of the two multiplexes in the Ravindra Bhavan complex. There was no delay on our part. The matter was being looked into by the PWD. We are not to be blamed for the delay. But, I am equally worried about the parking arrangements because as it is, Ravindra Bhavan is facing parking problems
— Damu Naik,
Chairman Ravindra Bhavan
