Team Herald
PANJIM: The Town and Country Planning Board on Friday approved the ODP 2028 for Margao, Fatorda and Ponda, which was approved by the South Goa Planning and Development Authority on Thursday.
The meeting was chaired by Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai. He said that these plans, which for the first time have macro level design and micro level diligence, have been well received by the people.
Sardesai said that the ODPs have a touch of Goenkarponn. “Since the Goa Forward Party was formed, it brought Goenkarponn into politics. When we formed the government we brought Goenkarponn into many aspects of governance,” he said.
Giving details of the ODP he said that focus is on everything that is quintessentially Goan where international expertise is merged with local culture to create a new aspirational, stylish, Neo-Goan identity.
Sardesai said that the government has created avenues like the Opinion Poll Square where the Goan balcao is seen. “We are in the process of implementing the Goan Tinto Project where heritage conservation will be the focus, eventually leading to heritage walks being organised for tourists to learn our architectural heritage and history,” he said.
Sardesai said that government has not forgotten the agrarian roots and intend to create an agriculture hub which will be a model of community farming involving a collaboration of government and people (land losers). “We intend to source the best urban planning minds in the world to design our cities at the macro level through the CDP that will now follow.”
These new cities should boost economic, social and cultural growth and promote happy and healthy living,” he said.
“Cities that signal a new stylish and proud identity that is in tune with emerging aspirational Goa,” he added.
Sardesai said that through the plans the department has not only changed zones and increased FAR, which has become symptomatic with ODPs but we have thought of our Goenkars who are poor and have earmarked an area of 10,000 sqm for low cost housing.
“We want to focus on translating the idea of education into good schools. Hence benefits in FAR to Multipurpose School, Loyola School, Manila Nutan High School, Iqra Muslim School and Matagramast Hindu Sabha’s proposed educational institute at Pajifond,” he said.
“For the first time the Diocesan Society intends to come up with an ICSE School for which provision is made through zoning and access,” he added.
A new Fatorda Peoples School is planned with state of the art facilities.
Sardesai said that the planning is done keeping in mind Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas – although Digamber Kamat and Ravi Naik are for name sake opposing or showing non-cooperation.
“All in all we have shown the ODP and subsequent CDP will ensure diligent and meticulous execution. A small State like Goa can think big and we will prove that big ideas turn into reality given out will and passion to take Goa Forward,” he added.
