GCA revives plans to construct cricket stadium near Panaji

PANAJI: Goa Cricket Association has revived its plan for constructing an international standard stadium at Thivim, near Panaji.

"We have in our possession one lakh square meters of land which was acquired to construct cricket stadium at Thivim. The state government has been requested to give nod for the same," GCA president Chetan Desai told PTI today.

Goa government had granted in-principle approval for the cricket stadium in 2007, but it later withdrew the consent in 2012 after farmers objected to it.

Desai said the state Cabinet had then adopted a resolution cancelling lease deed for the stadium, but actual cancellation is yet to happen.

In view of the uncertainty over Thivim project, the then GCA president Dr Shekhar Salkar had acquired 2.92 lakh square metres of the land at Maulingem in Bicholim taluka (North Goa) for construction of the stadium.

Desai said the land purchased at Maulingem is not feasible for an international stadium due to inadequate access to the spot.

"The stadium at Maulingem will also not be commercially viable," he said.

Desai said the stadium project at Thivim will have 35,000 seating capacity and it will help the GCA to bid for international matches and even Indian Premier League ( IPL) matches.