Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has granted Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) approval to the proposed twin observation towers planned atop the new Zuari Bridge, even though the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report is yet to be completed.
In its recent meeting held last month, the authority also decided to recommend the Rs 270-crore project to the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for further environmental clearance. The decision was taken based on clarifications submitted by the Public Works Department, which is the nodal agency for the project.
The project, being developed by Dilip Buildcon, was originally expected to begin after the monsoon season with a completion timeline of around three years from commencement. However, during an earlier meeting on December 24, 2025, the GCZMA had directed the developer to submit a detailed EIA report and carry out a comprehensive environmental study in accordance with CRZ norms before moving ahead.
Despite the EIA still being pending, the authority has now recommended the project for clearance, subject to strict adherence to the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011 (as amended).
The GCZMA has also stated that all parties involved—including the applicant, developer, consultants, architects, and future occupiers—will be held accountable for any violation of CRZ rules.
The panel has further instructed the project proponent to secure all necessary statutory permissions, including Consent to Establish and Operate from the Goa State Pollution Control Board, as well as approvals from forest and other relevant departments.
An inspection report prepared by expert members has flagged ecological concerns, noting that the site falls under multiple sensitive CRZ classifications, including CRZ-IA (mangroves and buffer zones), CRZ-IB (water bodies), CRZ-III (no development zones along river and creek stretches), and designated fishing areas.
The report also highlights the presence of mangrove cover on both sides of the site, describing it as a crucial ecological barrier that supports biodiversity and climate resilience, and stresses the need for its protection.
Project documents indicate that a draft CRZ demarcation study by the National Institute of Oceanography has been submitted. The proposal includes two observation towers linked to the mainland through a 120-metre-long, 12-metre-wide elevated walkway over the bridge, along with high-speed elevators for visitors.
Supporting infrastructure proposed on the Agassaim side includes a children’s play area, sanitation facilities, a pantry, ticketing counter, security cabin, and an administrative block currently being used as a temporary office by the developer.
