Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has asked the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) to consider the proposed Panaji-Reis Magos passenger ropeway project of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) as per the stayed Outline Development Plan (ODP) 2021.
The HC said that this was subject to the final order on Prof Edgar Ribeiro and two others’ writ petitions.
The court said that of the NGPDA nevertheless approves the project, the Court has given liberty to petitioners to challenge the approval via a fresh petition, and all contentions are kept open.
The order came in response to an application filed by the NGPDA in the pending PIL filed by Edgar Ribeiro, Goa Bachao Abhiyan and Goa Foundation challenging the Panaji ODP 2021. As a result of the PIL, the NGPDA may only approve projects as per the ODP 2011.
The Investment Promotion Board (IPB) in 2015 granted in-principle approval to the project, followed by cabinet approval in 2016.
However, in 2017, IPB withdrew in-principle approvals granted to 17 investment proposals, including the ropeway project, for falling under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas.
In 2016, GTDC executed an agreement with Royal Rides to undertake the project in Design, Build, Finance, Operate & Transfer (DBFOT) mode.
