Govt reviews Exposition preparations

Panaji: With less than 10 days remaining for the Exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa, secretary revenue and commissioner I Sandip Jacques IAS reviewed preparations for the 45-day spiritual event that draws lakhs of people every 10 years.

The review meeting was held at the Exposition secretariat set up at the tourism department’s property at Old Goa. The meeting was attended by North Goa collector Sneha Gitte, Old Goa sarpanch Medha Parvatkar, Exposition convener Fr Henry Falcao, rector of the basilica of Bom Jesus Fr Patricio Fernandes, PWD chief engineer Nitin Nevrekar, PWD executive engineer Jude Carvalho, IT director Pravin Volvoikar, and other senior govt officials.

Jacques later conducted a recce of the areas of accommodation for pilgrims and the basilica of Bom Jesus, outside which a large pandal has been built for masses. He also checked the housekeeping and visited parking facilities, the Exposition office and Se Cathedral complex, where people will be queuing up to enter the cathedral to venerate the relics of the Spanish saint. Jacques also checked signage, pilgrim barracks, and other accommodation facilities.

The secretary revenue stressed the optimum utilisation of facilities created for pilgrims and devotees. He directed the day-to-day housekeeping and maintenance of all areas during the Exposition period.


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