Pushes to set up more amenities at basilica
Panaji : With eight months left for the decennial exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Thursday assured to set up maximum amenities to support the ecosystem for the faithful and tourists who will come as pilgrims for the exposition.
“Hardly eight months are left for the exposition. To finish whatever works are pending, we will plan out to ensure that maximum possible things are completed to provide amenities that would be needed to support the ecosystem for the people and tourists who will come as pilgrims for the exposition,” Khaunte said.
He was speaking at the launch of development of amenities at Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme of the Union tourism ministry. It was launched in a virtual mode by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The scheme aims at developing quality infrastructure and promoting pilgrimage tourist sites across the nation.
The Old Goa project is estimated at over `17 crore comprises a parking lot, heritage interpretation centre, streetlights in parking, e-auto for movement of tourists, façade illumination, visitors footfall counting devices and basic pilgrim amenities like benches, dustbins and signage boards.
Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade said Old Goa is one among the heritage places in the country and is visited by most of the tourists who come to the state.
“We have eight months left, and I am confident that the works will be completed before the exposition, which will begin from November 21. We have to get all the works completed before November 15,” Tanavade said.
Stating that development in the state will boost tourism, Tanavade said, “The state is dependent on tourism and if tourists do not visit Goa, it will not generate revenue for it.”
Speaking on the occasion, tourism director Suneel Anchipaka said the project is a testament to the government’s commitment to ramp up Goa’s tourism infrastructure.
“Under this scheme, funds have been allotted to the state government specifically targetting upgradation of the specific area,” Anchipaka said.