Daugim road work poses threat to heritage ruins

Old Goa: Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation's (GSIDC) Daugim road widening project has disappointed heritage lovers, as a broader thoroughfare for traffic on Cumbarjua bridge will run over the historic fortification wall and ruins of the former city's suburb.

The contractor entrusted with the work has razed stretches of the old fortification wall that protectively accommodated within the extensive Old Goa city of yore, its suburbs and even villages of Corlim, Carambolim and Bainguinim.

In the 16th century, Daugim was a teeming suburb with a few churches, convents, grand mansions and the ruins can be partly seen under the thick vegetation.

The development corporation is allegedly bulldozing through the ruins, though the state conservation committee under town and country planning (TCP) department had kept the proposal in abeyance. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had suggested that the expansion be restricted within the walls on either side.

"ASI had also suggested diversion of traffic towards the petrol pump instead of Gandhi circle to avoid congestion in the heritage area," an official said.

. "Daugim ruins have to be preserved as a memory of the old city's grandeur," John Carvalho, a member of Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) said.

Officials maintained that they are widening the road to cope with the increased traffic after the opening of Cumbarjua bridge. "We are trying to make it a two-lane road of 7.5m width with broad shoulders," manager (engineering), GSIDC, Sandip Chodnekar said.

Chodnekar assured that care would be taken not to damage any heritage ruins in the area. "We are ready to consider suggestions to protect heritage structures, if any, during construction," he assured.