Tender for convention centre at Dona Paula likely in Dec

Panaji: The Public Private Partnership (PPP) cell of the state government has finalised the request for proposal (RFP) for setting up a 5,000 seating capacity convention centre at

Dona Paula

at the estimated cost of over Rs 800 crore.

The PPP cell is likely to float a tender in December to invite bidders to set up the centre.

Along with the convention centre, a multiplex as well as a five-starred hotel has been proposed at Dona Paula as part of the first phase in an area of around 97,000 sqms. Earlier, the project was proposed to be built on land admeasuring 2.9 lakh sqm.

A senior officer said that Rs 800 crore is the approximate cost for the first phase of the project, and depending on the expansion, the project cost would increase and this would be borne by the bidder. The convention centre will be developed on public-private partnership.

Recently, the state cabinet approved the re-engagement of Knight Frank (India) Private Limited as project consultant.

The tendering process for the convention centre was earlier handled by the Economic Development Corporation (EDC).

“It is to be noted that the consultant for the project was in place and the tender process was set in motion by EDC with draft documents being finalised. The EDC, through a competitive bidding process, signed an agreement with Knight Frank (India) Private Limited on May 31, 2018, as consultant for the convention centre project,” the note states.

Now, the same project has been shifted from EDC to the finance department’s PPP cell, and the government has decided that the PPP cell will take the tender process, initiated by EDC, to its logical conclusion.

“The consultant has achieved substantial progress towards achieving the second deliverable and is conversant with the project site, details and structuring with all the documentation required to conduct the bid process. Therefore, it is considered appropriate to continue the services of the same consultant to carry forward the tender process of the project,” states the cabinet note.

An exhibition centre, indoor film shooting shed, ESG office, Iffi office, Smart City centre of excellence and commercial projects such as hotel, apartments, mall and multiplex have also been proposed at the site, former EDC chairman Sidharth Kuncalienkar had said.

The rest of the area would be used for parking, electricity generation and solid waste management, he had said.