PREPARATION FOR EXPOSITION BEGINS

Panaji:  March 20, 2024

    The Committee appointed by the Government to monitor the day to day functioning and to oversee all activities related to the Exposition today undertook preparatory site inspection of certain areas to identify the various nature of works that require to be undertaken for the forthcoming decennial exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier, popularly known as “Gõycho Saib” to be held between November 21, 2024 and January 5, 2025 at Old Goa.

    Shri Sandip Jacques, IAS, Secretary Revenue and Exposition Commissioner – I (Infrastructure, Services & Co-ordination); Shri Uttam Parsekar, CEE(PWD) & Exposition Commissioner – II (Infrastructure & Services); Shri Stephen Fernandes, CE, Electricity, Chief Architect, Shri Marvin Gomes along with Fr. Henry Falcoa, Convenor of the Exposition, Fr. Patricio Fernandes Rector of Basilica Bom Jesus, other representative of the Church and other line Departments inspected the various sites to understand the nature of works that needs to be undertaken – Infrastructure, beautification, illumination, identifying of Parking areas, Pilgrims Centres, sanitation plan along with waste management facilities apart from other amenities for the decennial exposition.

    Shri Jacques asserting that this being the first meeting of the Members exhorted upon all the line departments to identity the grey areas and the difficulties faced during the last exposition to ensure better facilities, easy movement of pilgrims and vehicle without any hindrance with ample circulation facilities for better experience of the pilgrims and the general public that come for veneration of the Relics.

Shri Jacques also directed the concerned officials to ensure that systematic queue arrangements be made for people going for veneration apart from appropriate place for people to sit in case of being tired including a separate queue for Senior Citizens and PwDs.

The Members inspected the sites for the setting up the Exposition Secretariat, Traffic diversions, Parking areas, Pilgrims centres, etc.

    Senior Government officials from departments of PWD, GSIDC, DoIT, Revenue Department, Information and Publicity, Police were present during the inspection.