The commercial hub – Porvorim — is almost a satellite town, situated in close proximity to Panjim, and evolving into a mini metro, that besides the State Legislative Assembly and Secretariat, also houses government offices, educational institutions, shopping mall and starred resorts and villas. But, the village-turned Legislative capital has often been neglected by the Government.
Porvorim, however, is expecting and getting more attention now. And its MLA, is now Goa’s Revenue minister. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in his Budget proposals of 2017-18 has announced a comprehensive plan by appointing a consultant for development of the area.
The ‘Porvorkars’ are demanding urban status for the area that comes under the panchayats of Salvador do Mundo, Penha de Franca and Socorro. Considered as a suburb of Panjim, Porvorim is considered an up-market residential hub as it lies on the prime Mumbai-Goa highway NH17.
Porvorim minister and MLA Rohan Khaunte, during his earlier stint as MLA, had stressed the need for a consultant to draw out an infrastructure plan for fast growing constituencies like Porvorim, to avoid problems faced by outgrown cities and towns.
Parrikar had in his earlier tenure in 2014 announced the appointment of LKS consultant to draft a comprehensive infrastructure plan for the area. But he leaving Goa, put paid to those plans, at least temporarily.
The planners too feel that it’s high time that Government focus on proper planning for Porvorim keeping in mind the futuristic growth plan of the area, which is currently facing pressure of haphazard developments.
“Porvorim needs a holistic master plan that will look at visionary growth trends and immediate requirements of environmental concerns emerging from mass housing trend — both existing and proposed, bearing capacities of such neighbourhoods,” Manguesh Prabhugaonkar, chairman of Indian Institute of Architects (Goa Chapter) told HERALD.
Speaking in detail about the existing situation, Prabhugaonkar said that Porvorim has evolved as city for last three-four decades, with residential land use being the major land use pattern in the area. It consists of gated community, settlements along urban streets and social housing for urban poor — all the three types which has come in saturated manner without proper planning, he said.
Prabhugaonkar, who is also a member on the State Level Committee on Regional Plan, said that the master plan for the area needs to be worked on certain guidelines like framework for mobility and traffic, concept of recreational facilities, self sustainable independent cluster, re-looking at comprehensive complexes for infrastructure network like sewerage, water and electricity.
“Rather than just focusing on PPP projects like market, stadium and other entertainment commercial projects, the plan needs to lay emphasis on the requirements of the people,” he said adding special attention is needed to North-Eastern side of Porvorim, which is rich in biodiversity and now is slowly under pressure of residential complexes.
Yet another planner — a well known architect Dean D’Cruz — laid emphasis on the fact that the Porvorim hub is facing immense pressure of both commercialisation and traffic and hence there is need to divert both, out of the city. “In the RP21, we had proposed by-pass roads connecting Mapusa to Dharbandora to Canacona, thereby reducing pressure on National Highways and interior roads like CHOGM road. However, Government did not show keen interest to this proposal,” he said adding ‘it is high time that when we talk of holistic plan, the pressure needs to be reduced’.
The State’s biggest shopping mall is situated here, attracting a huge crowd. The Investment Promotion Board (IPB) has granted permission to a real estate Developers’ proposal to construct yet another high-end shopping-cum-entertainment mall at Porvorim. Also a five-star hotel has been approved at Malim in Penha de Franca panchayat.
The Porvorim MLA and Revenue Minister Khaunte said that with the rise in population, there were problems of congestion, parking, noise, etc, and this was the right time to plan for proper growth of the rural and urban areas.
“As we all know, Porvorim is growing at a rapid speed but the growth is haphazard and can outgrow the city. Hence, there is need for proper planning taking all stakeholders into confidence. Be it panchayat, residents, everyone’s suggestions need to be taken while drafting the development plan,” he said.
Khaunte said that the basic idea is to provide quality life to the people, proper traffic management, ensure basic infrastructure while keeping pace of development. “Soon after being inducted in cabinet, I had raised the issue before Chief Minister and I am happy that he is acting on it quickly,” he said.
