The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) project at the entrance to the city had promised to help ease vehicular traffic. The dream of smooth traffic and pay parking was, however, held for nearly one year raising speculation over the facility’s completion.
Speaking to media persons, Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said the facility would be inaugurated on May 7. “The facility will be run on a trial basis for the first three months. Post that the tendering process will be initiated to award the contract of running the project,” the Minister said.
The building has been constructed by Venkatrao Infra Projects Pvt Ltd and can accommodate 85 cars per floor with a total capacity of 455 cars. It comprises of a ground floor, three levels and an open space besides a ramp to ascend to each level with two passenger lifts and a toilet facility.
Parulekar also said that the Aguada helipad will have five helicopter parking lots, post which the helicopter ride from the site would commence.
The Minister also welcomed the Union Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoEF) decision giving relaxation to beach and private shack operators to retain their structures during the off-season, provided no operation is undertaken.
“We had been pursuing the request with the Union Ministry for the last two years. Owing to heavy expenditure on construction and later dismantling of the temporary structures, the shack owners had petitioned the government seeking relaxation,” he said.
Goa Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Nilesh Cabral said, “Shack operators in Goa had a genuine issue concerning dismantling of shacks at the end of the season as it was resulting in huge costs. The amendment to the CRZ notification of 2011 by MoEF will bring cheer to the shack operators.”
