Following the partial collapse of a slab at the old Bank of Baroda building in Margao on Friday afternoon, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat swiftly directed authorities to engage the Goa College of Engineering for a structural stability test. However, the incident has reignited long-standing concerns over the inaction surrounding several aging and unsafe buildings in Goa’s commercial capital.
Critics question whether another structural assessment will make any difference, especially when past warnings have gone unheeded. A case in point: a building declared structurally unsafe by the Goa College of Engineering in 2018 remains standing to this day—despite orders from the South Goa District Disaster Management Authority to demolish it.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Adding to the alarm, a footwear business has been operating from the ground floor of this very building since 2023, openly defying safety orders. When asked about this, Margao Municipal Council (MMC) Chief Officer Damu Shirodkar confirmed that the trade licence for the establishment had been revoked. However, he was unable to explain why the business continues to operate unhindered.
The situation has exposed a glaring loophole in enforcement. Uncertainty looms over which authority—the MMC, the Disaster Management Authority, or the demolition squad—is responsible for sealing or razing buildings that pose a public hazard. In light of continued inaction, citizen Collin Coelho has taken the issue to the High Court, seeking judicial intervention to ensure public safety.
The incident raises pressing questions: If buildings already flagged as dangerous continue to host commercial activity unchecked, can the public have any confidence that similar structures, if declared unsafe in future assessments, will face timely action?
With lives potentially at stake, residents and civic activists are calling for accountability and urgent reforms in how Margao handles its aging and dangerous infrastructure.
