PANAJI: Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Monday held a review meeting of the PRASHAD scheme for developing facilities at pilgrimage and tourist sites in Old Goa to discuss the progress of the projects and promising to speed up the implementation ahead of the exposition that is expected to be held in the year 2024.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting that was held in the office premises of the Basilica of Bom Jesus along with stakeholders including the Jesuit Priests, the Local MLA Rajesh Faldessai, Goa Police and other stakeholders, Khaunte said that further meetings will be held until a final plan can be drawn up and taken forward.
“Basically a review of the scheme under PRASAD for which Old Goa was suggested — the monument side, the heritage site, the religious side and we need to give the best of the experience for a pilgrim who comes here and on the other side those who come here as a tourist,” Khaunte said.
“PRASAD scheme was constituted keeping in mind all the facilities that are required at tourist spots — keeping in mind the monument and the heritage of the old Goa churches — in terms of mobility, in terms of infrastructure in terms of toilets, a lot of things were required to complement this structure,” he added.
“We need to be ready, in the eventuality of any of the numbers increasing. Today if you see, after Covid, a lot of numbers are increasing. Old Goa is getting tourists daily and in 2024 the exposition will also be held,” he said.
“Our team will once again sit with the fathers and no sooner is it done, we will think about a way forward,” he said.
The Old Goa Church Complex was chosen under the central government’s PRASHAD ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive’. The Central government had approved Rs 41.49 crore under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme of the Union ministry of tourism for development at the Basilica of Bom Jesus and parts of the Old Goa church complex.