GTDC eyeing 400cr from Centre for beach amenities

Panaji: Goa tourism development corporation (GTDC) is eyeing around 400 to 500 crore from the central government under the Swadesh Darshan scheme for upgradation of facilities at beaches and spiritual places.
GTDC chairman Nilesh Cabral said, “The Swadesh Darshan Scheme launched by the central government will give a big boost to tourism in Goa if the circuit components are approved and funds sanctioned for the same.The GTDC board had approved the components and project costs at a meeting last week, and all talukas having coastal areas and places of worship with touristic importance have been identified.”
He also said that Darashaw & Company Pvt Ltd, appointed as lead consultant, has drawn up consolidated detailed project reports (DPR). “These were approved by the GTDC board last week,” Cabral said. The DPRs are for providing tourists amenities at 33 beaches and 50 places of worship of touristic importance. For this purpose, GTDC has devised two unified themes - coastal circuits and spiritual circuits.
Under coastal circuits, the consultant has identified project works such as setting up of public conveniences at 33 beaches and other works, such as road widening, illumination, signages, construction of pathways, footpaths, parking, and other tourism facilities. Similarly, projects for beautification and up-gradation of facilities at places of worship which are of touristic importance have also been drawn up. For decades, the state government has been criticized for failing to provide basic amenities at beaches.
A representation would shortly be made to the Union ministry of tourism for the purpose of obtaining funds for the state under Swadesh Darshan, said Cabral. The scheme entitles the state to 100% funding if the circuits are approved as per guidelines of the scheme.
“We are confident of getting the project components under both circuits approved by the Union ministry for tourism,” said tourism minister Dilip Parulekar.