TEAM HERALD
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VASCO: If floating casinos have set up shop in the Mandovi River, be prepared to find hotels floating in the Zuari River in the near future.
The Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) has received two proposals from private parties to set up floating hotels at the Mormugao Port.
Confirming this, MPT Chairman P Mara Pandiyan told Herald: “We have received two proposals to start floating hotels at the Mormugao port. As per the proposal received from some private parties, each floating hotel will roughly house 400 guests,” said Pandiyan.
The MPT chairman, however, admitted that the two proposals were at the initial stage.
“The proposal is only at the preliminary stage as the parties are expected to come down in September and after going through the details, we will be able to grant them the permission,” added Pandiyan.
Asked if the MPT would benefit from these floating hotels, Pandiyan replied: “The MPT will not achieve much, but it will help boost tourism in the State.”
To another query on whether the floating hotels would be anchored at the port or off port limits, Pandiyan said: “It is left to the proposer where they want to anchor the floating hotels and accordingly, the space will be provided to them.”
He hinted that passenger boats would be needed to ferry guests to and from the floating hotels.
Meanwhile, Pandiyan informed that his plans for a giant-sized aquarium in Vasco as a tourist attraction had been kept in abeyance due to financial constraints.
“Once we are financially sound, we will go ahead with the construction of the aquarium,” said Pandiyan.
