Goa: Six new Covid cases on Friday

Times of India | 3 weeks ago | 30-04-2022 | 12:57 am

Panaji: Goa reported six new Covid cases on Friday with nil hospitalisations and nil deaths. A total of 469 samples were tested with a case positivity rate of 1.28%. Goa’s case positivity rate crossed the one percent mark twice this week, after several weeks. Active cases are at 44, the highest since April 2. Goa’s weekly positivity rate is 0.94% for North Goa and 0.82% for South Goa between April 22 and April 28.

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Ribandar jetty: Smart City commissions green study

Times of India | 1 hour ago | 21-05-2022 | 01:57 am

Times of India

1 hour ago | 21-05-2022 | 01:57 am

Panaji: Acting on directions issued by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL) has commissioned a three-month rapid environment impact assessment (EIA) for the Rs 2.1-crore concrete jetty for fishermen at Ribandar. The project, which is being taken up under the Smart City mission, aims to redevelop the dilapidated wooden jetty currently used by local fishermen. IPSCDL wants to replace the existing jetty with a concrete wharf, which is expected to take 12 months to complete. The GCZMA has said that before any construction activity begins, the EIA and environment management plan needs to be prepared and submitted based on which environmental clearances will come in. “IPSCDL intends to appoint an agency to prepare the rapid EIA and EMP reports,” said an IPSCDL official. The agency will have to study the environmental regulatory requirements applicable for the fishing jetty at Ribandar. The study will focus on the impact on the land, ambient air quality, marine environment and the biological ecosystem based on which an environmental monitoring plan will be prepared.

State likely to get culinary institute: CM

Times of India | 1 hour ago | 21-05-2022 | 01:57 am

Times of India

1 hour ago | 21-05-2022 | 01:57 am

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday held a meeting with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and discussed the body’s proposal of establishing a Regional Indian Culinary Institute in Goa. Sawant expressed his support for the project in Goa and said that any tourism department building or a closed school building will be identified to run the institute from. The CM said CII could renovate such a structure and start the Institute after completing the required formalities. Sougata Roy Choudhury, senior director at CII, briefed the CM about the proposal. He said that the Regional Culinary Institute is planned in Goa by CII in partnership with Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne of Switzerland. This will be in addition to the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Swiss Professional Diploma program being launched with IHCL (Taj Luxury Hotel properties). He said the various regional cuisines in India have a rich heritage and potential and there is a need to create this “lighthouse for regional Indian cuisines”. The CII said this will enable locals to acquire the much required knowledge and equip them for job placements in India and abroad. Roy Choudhury said this institute will train local youth to match world-class standards in the hospitality industry, including hotels, airlines, cruise-lines, catering and travel industry.

Car breakdown, accident on Zuari bridge backs traffic up for hours

Times of India | 1 hour ago | 21-05-2022 | 01:57 am

Times of India

1 hour ago | 21-05-2022 | 01:57 am

Panaji: People using the Zuari bridge on Friday were put through tremendous hardship due to traffic jams with the usual 45-minute between Panaji and Margao taking them three hours and more. Some attributed the recurring problem to the lanes converging into single lanes on the Zuari bridge while others blamed police for poor traffic management. Traffic jams were seen on either side of the Zuari bridge — Cortalim and Agasaim — with rains worsening the situation. People brought out their four-wheelers instead of two-wheelers adding to the congestion. What aggravated the already existing problem was a car that had a tyre puncture right in the middle of the bridge in the morning making it necessary to call in a crane to clear the way. Later in the day there was an accident involving a four-wheeler and Kadamba bus where the party didn’t agree and wanted a panchnama to be filed. The spot was cleared later and passengers shifted to another bus. People appealed to chief minister Pramod Sawant via social media for a solution to the Cortalim-Agasaim traffic mess. “@DrPramodPSawant We didn’t mind when the petrol price crossed 105. But what the point in wasting 4/5 litres in traffic jam? #trafficmanagement #Goa #Megablock,” one netizen tweeted. “@Goapolice1091 huge traffic jam at Zuari bridge due to mismanagement by policemen stationed there @DrPramodPSawant @goacm @DGP_Goa,” another tweeted. DYSP traffic, South Goa, Dharmesh Angle said traffic police were on their toes trying to address the problem. He said there was additional strain on the traffic as people who otherwise travel by two-wheelers brought out their four-wheelers due to the incessant rains. The tyre puncture on the bridge and the accident stopped traffic as a result of which vehicles kept piling up on either end of the bridge, he said. At any given time 35 to 55 vehicles pass over the Zuari bridge every minute, he said, adding that, in the event of an accident, the stoppage of traffic even for five minutes has cascading effects on traffic on both sides of the bridge and this backlog continues. A government official told TOI that there is no solution to the traffic problem as multiple lanes on either side of the bridge converge into a single lane on Zuari bridge. “The bridge carpet can only allow one lane. The bottleneck is Zuari bridge itself. People will require to have patience till the new bridge is opened,” he said. Meanwhile, traffic police have permitted bridge work to take place on either side of the bridge, which may affect traffic, only during non peak hours, Angle said. He said the contractor has been asked not to carry out any work that will block the maximum width of the route during peak hours. Traffic police have found that the majority of jams take place on Saturday when officer goers leave for their native places and when families get out for the weekend. “It’s unfortunate that the government has not been able to find a solution and address the plight of the commuters on this stretch for the last four years. Bridges are built the world over but the commuters are not made to suffer in such a manner,” one commuter said.

Helicopter service takes off in Aguada

Times of India | 1 hour ago | 21-05-2022 | 01:03 am

Times of India

1 hour ago | 21-05-2022 | 01:03 am

Panaji: The state’s plans for heli tourism that were grounded since 2016 following protests by Sinquerim locals, took off on Friday after a private agency, Blade India, an urban air mobility company, launched the state’s first helicopter service from the helipad at Aguada. The Blade India announced three rides — connecting airport to South and North Goa, charter service from Maharashtra and within Goa and a 10-minute experiential flights giving a bird’s eye view of the state’s coastline. Five years ago, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) had to discontinue the project after local fishing community and villagers, supported by some local politicians, raised objections to the use of the same helipad. The GTDC tried to operate the service by moving it to South Goa, but it had to be discontinued for logistic reasons. Chief minister Pramod Sawant who launched the service exuded confidence that there won’t be “opposition” now and appreciated Blade India for taking the risk. “There was an opposition, then but I don’t think people will oppose these kind of services, now,” Sawant said replying to a query. Last year, the GTDC had commissioned a helipad at Old Goa and declared that it will re-launch the helicopter service. Sawant said that it could not start since permission from CRZ authority is awaited. In the past, the project was delayed as GTDC had to finalise a location for a helipad and later since it had to retender to select a service provider. Having a helicopter service in Goa, Sawant said, will boost tourism and help the tourists explore the hinterlands of the state. “The government will help the agency in getting permissions required to commence operations,” Sawant said. Blade India has identified landing points in Surla and Sanquelim in North Goa. The company’s founder Karanpal Singh said they will use the present infrastructure and also create new helipads with the help of the government. Blade India’s strategic partner Airbus Helicopters’ India and South Asia head Sunny Guglani said despite having rich flora and fauna, the country has not been able to attract more tourists as it is hard to reach the interiors. “We need solutions to connect potential tourists both foreign and Indian and create economic opportunities. Goa has beautiful beaches, forts and waterfalls. I think helicopters can play a pivotal role in unlocking the true potential of Goa,” he said. Goa can lead the way for the rest of the country, Gunglani said. Copter service can be used for medical emergencies: CM TNN Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said Blade India’s helicopter services in the state can be used in case of medical emergencies, an option that was not available in the past. “In a medical emergency, where a patient needs to be immediately shifted to a hospital, wherever needed, the helicopter service can be availed. Sometimes, it takes two hours to transport a patient to a medical facility via road,” Sawant said. Goans and other travellers, he said, will also have the option of choosing helicopter service to visit nearby cities in Maharashtra or Karnataka, and help increase connectivity and also promote medical tourism. The chief minister said people from other neighbouring cities of Maharashtra and Karnataka will certainly use the helicopter services.

400 FAR to Kadamba plateau attracts bouquets, brickbats

Times of India | 1 hour ago | 21-05-2022 | 01:02 am

Times of India

1 hour ago | 21-05-2022 | 01:02 am

Panaji: The town and country planning (TCP) department’s move to permit an FAR of 400 for the Kadamba plateau has drawn both flak and support. While Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) has criticised the move, calling it a “disaster in the making”, Credai said that TCP’s decision is a step towards planned development. However, while encouraging the development of Kadamba plateau as a satellite township of Panaji, Credai added a rider and said that clear guidelines and transparency need to be ensured. The TCP board met on Tuesday, where TCP minister Vishwajit Rane decided to increase the permissible FAR on Kadamba Plateau to 400. GBA said that the idea of taking pressure off congested areas like Panaji makes sense, but jumping straight to FAR of 400 would lead to a concrete jungle. “This is something that even Noida does not have, picture the disaster in the making. Concentration of concrete creates heat islands that are unbearable in today’s heat waves, which are only set to get worse in India,” said GBA convenor Sabina Martins. FAR, or Floor to Area Ratio, is a measure of how much can be built on a plot of land. While urban areas like Panaji have an FAR of 250, cities like Mumbai, Bangalore and Noida provide between 133 and 350 FAR. Credai president Nilesh Salkar disagreed with GBA’s stand. “Kadamba plateau, being in the nascent stage of development that it is, has scope to a well-planned infrastructure with systematic development. Considering the fact that the government plans to use professional planning agencies, it can become a landmark location. So keeping a 400 FAR would make a lot of sense,” said Salkar. GBA remains skeptical, arguing that the state has yet to learn from the mistakes of the Regional Plan exercise. “It is critical to have a 10-year master plan that fits in all the requirements. Cease random decisions and follow a proper planning process for a Regional Plan,” said Reboni Saha, the GBA general secretary. GBA wants the TCP department to withdraw its decisions, particularly the move to increase the permissible FAR for hotels. Salkar said that as long as the state government frames clear guidelines for allotting FAR and allots additional FAR in a transparent manner, Credai sees no problem.

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