Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: The Goa government’s ambitious plan to set up a Film City in the state received a major boost as the Department of Information and Publicity signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Loliem-Polem Communidade to develop 10 lakh square metres of barren and rocky land on the Bhagwati Plateau into a modern Film City in South Goa. The MoU was officially signed and registered on 25th June 2025 between Director of Information and Publicity Deepak Bandekar and Loliem-Polem Communidade President Vishwajit Warik, leasing the land in Survey Number 63/1—popularly known as Agshot—for 90 years to the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) for the purpose of establishing the Film City.
With the registration of the MoU, ESG has a clear path to develop Goa’s first dedicated Film City in South Goa, a project expected to generate between 3,000 to 5,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities for the local community, along with multiple other benefits. The proposed Film City is also being seen as a strategic move to support the retention of Dabolim Airport, which faces the threat of closure following the opening of the new Mopa (GOX) Airport in North Goa.
Loliem-Polem Communidade President Vishwajit Warik said the Communidade will receive ₹70 lakh annually in lease rent along with a ₹1 crore deposit. He explained that the 10 lakh square metre parcel at Agshot has already been earmarked within the larger 38 lakh square metre area on one side of the Bhagwati Plateau, clarifying that the selected site is far from the Bhagwati temple and would not impact it as some critics have claimed.
Warik further revealed that a detailed project report (DPR) has already been prepared for the Film City, which will not only generate thousands of jobs but also provide daily wage opportunities to local artists, folk-art groups, and students participating in film productions. The project is planned to begin with the establishment of a Film Academy offering technical and non-technical courses, aimed at developing skilled manpower and creating new avenues for the local community.
