Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: Expressing strong reservations against the proposed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for the redevelopment of the Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) bus stand in Vasco, Congress leader Nandadeep Raut and his wife municipal councillor Priya Raut convened a meeting with local residents on Sunday morning and warned of large-scale protests if the project proceeds without public consensus.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Nandadeep Raut clarified that he was not opposed to the development of the KTCL bus stand but took objection to the manner in which a significant portion of public land was being allocated to a private developer under the PPP model.
“I just want to remind the people that 15 years ago, former minister Jose Philip D’Souza had laid the foundation stone for an administrative building at this very site. However, when Carlos Almeida was elected, he changed that plan and proposed a combined bus stand project. A massive ceremony was held, a new foundation stone was laid, and a ₹98 crore project was sanctioned. But during Almeida’s 10-year tenure, the works never progressed. Around ₹28 crore was spent on piling, which ended up being a waste of taxpayers’ money,” Raut said.
He added that while the project has now been taken up again by Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, there has been widespread panic among residents due to the PPP model being adopted, wherein the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) has reportedly been given the project under a 62:38 ratio.
“As per information available to me, the bus stand will occupy only 11,000 square metres, while NBCC will receive 18,000 square metres of our prime land. This is not development, this is land being sold through the backdoor. NBCC could use the right to construct around 500 flats, and this will bring in a large number of outsiders into our ward. We will have to face water scarcity, power shortages, and other civic issues. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Raut also alleged that the government had initially planned to lease the land to NBCC but it was rejected and the Government is now likely to hand over outright ownership. “We are not even shown the project plans. We don’t have any clarity. Earlier plans included a bus depot, administrative block, ground and hall, but nothing ever materialised. This land is the last major tract available in Vasco. If it is sold off, Vascokars will suffer forever. I appeal to Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant to intervene and stop this model. I have asked the Leader of Opposition to raise this issue and will be meeting KTCL officials and the CM if required,” he said.
Municipal councillor Priya Raut echoed similar concerns and said residents were ready to take legal recourse.
“We have spoken to residents and there is united opposition to this PPP model. It looks like the bus stand project is a cover to sell land. The KTCL plans mention shifting the bus stand to municipal land when the work begins. But as a councillor, I can say that this issue was never discussed in the municipal council meeting nor has any resolution been passed. How can KTCL shift anything without the council’s approval? How can municipal land be allotted without taking people into confidence?” she asked.
“We are ready to approach the courts if needed. We will not allow prime land to be sold to any private entity in this manner. This project, in its current form, will be a loss not just to the people, but also to KTCL and the government,” Priya Raut added.
Both leaders asserted that they would intensify their opposition if the government proceeds with the PPP model without addressing public concerns.
