Prep for Exposition: CM focuses on security and amenities for pilgrims

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday directed Goa police to create awareness among pilgrims who will be visiting the Exposition about pickpocketing to ensure the safety of their belongings. Govt is also in the process of installing and monitoring CCTV cameras across the venue.

Sawant, who is also the chairman of the Exposition secretariat, held a meeting on Sunday to review the various works under way for the Exposition of the relics of Saint Francis Xavier at Old Goa. He urged heads of departments to conduct a site visit to “ensure that nothing is left incomplete”.

He suggested having a mock drill on Nov 18 to sort out any issues. “Complete and hand over the place to the assigned departments and agencies by Nov 15,” he said, adding that so far 90% of the tasks were accomplished.

The CM emphasised the need to provide sound public transport to pilgrims from Panaji, Margao, Mapusa, and Vasco to Old Goa and back at specific timings. “Small EV buses could be used to ferry people from designated parking lots,” he said.

The SP was directed to post police officials to manage traffic along the route.

Commissioner-I, Sandip Jacques, stressed the need to effectively publicise the various facilities being put in place for the benefit of the pilgrims. “Professional agencies should be used to maintain hygiene and cleanliness at all toilet blocks,” he added. At the meeting, the public works department (PWD) presented a walkthrough video on the present status of works, which included accommodation, approach road management, parking lots, and basic amenities such as water and sanitation.

Matters of medical facilities, security, traffic management, waste management, queue systems for veneration, and conveyance of pilgrims from designated parking lots were also discussed at the meeting. Moreover, officials discussed barracks for police and fire services personnel, electrical arrangements, parking for different categories, and the issuance of accreditation cards to personnel.

Law minister Aleixo Sequeira, who is the deputy chairman of the Exposition secretariat, called on the officials to show urgency in completing the works. He directed the PWD to take on board more agencies to ensure that the civil works under way are completed well within the deadline.

Discussing various issues and works one by one, Sequeira set deadlines for all the pending works and urged the officials to be serious about achieving the targets.