Tag: Goa

CommercialLatest Stories

Goa: GIDC Plans to Double FAR for Verna IT Park Expansion

PANAJI: The Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) is set to increase the permissible floor area ratio (FAR) from 150 to 300 for its proposed IT Park named ‘Hello World’ at the Verna industrial estate, pending government approval. This ambitious project spans 4 lakh sqm (98 acres) at the end of phase IV of the estate. The GIDC has designated seven plots, each measuring 25,000 sqm, for IT companies, totalling around 3 lakh sqm. The remaining 1 lakh sqm will accommodate a business hotel, hostel, and utility services. The decision was made during the 398th board meeting of GIDC on Thursday,…

Latest StoriesResidential

Goa Owners Face Fines for Missing Tenant Information

PANAJI: The state government has drafted the Goa (Verification of Tenants) Rules, 2025, which will soon impose fines on property owners who fail to provide tenant information to authorities. The government is currently inviting public objections and suggestions regarding the rules before finalizing them for implementation. “All objections and suggestions regarding the draft rules can be sent to the chief secretary or home secretary within 30 days,” stated Manesh Hari Kedar, home under secretary. If a property owner or tenant fails to submit the required information or provides false information, a report will be forwarded to the sub-divisional police officer…

Latest StoriesResidential

Tenant Verification Soars in H1 2025

Representative image created by AI PANAJI: Goa police have intensified tenant verification drives, conducting 471 inspections in the first half of 2025, a significant increase from 236 in the whole of 2024. Authorities stated that while no crimes were uncovered during these drives, they played a crucial role in preventing criminal activities and enhancing public safety. A special initiative titled ‘Know Your Neighbour’ was launched to ensure tenants and servants completed and submitted their verification forms. A senior police officer mentioned that these verification forms are filled out and forwarded to the respective native police stations for thorough checks. “Homeowners…

Latest StoriesRera

Goa RERA Sets Guidelines to Curb Misleading Ads by Builders

PANAJI: The Goa Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Rera) has introduced new guidelines prohibiting builders and realtors from including disclaimers in advertisements for housing or commercial projects in the state. According to a notification from Rera, vague descriptions of project amenities will also be deemed misleading. Rera Secretary Paresh Faldesai stated, “Amenities promised in the agreement or brochure need to be clearly specified. A simple mention of 11+ amenities will be considered misleading at first glance.” The circular, directed to the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (Credai) and the Goa Association of Realtors, emphasizes that all real estate…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Goa CAG: Welfare Gaps for Construction Workers, Safety Laxity

Representative image PANAJI: A performance audit conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has revealed significant shortcomings in the implementation of welfare measures for building and other construction (BOC) workers in Goa. Key issues identified include the non-registration of migrant laborers, inadequate data sharing among agencies, and insufficient inspections to ensure workplace safety. The audit specifically looked into the operations of the Goa Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directives from July 2018. These directives mandated that states implement a model scheme for BOC workers and strengthen enforcement efforts. The…

Latest StoriesResidential

Over 50,000 Goa Homes to Be Regularized Soon

PANAJI: In the coming days, over 50,000 homes in Goa will be regularized as a result of three laws passed during the recent monsoon session of the legislative assembly. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated that the ‘Majhe Ghar’ initiative has led to several “bold, compassionate, and people-centric” reforms, ensuring every Goan family can claim their fundamental rights. Under the Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, homes constructed on government land by landless, long-term residents before February 28, 2014, can now be regularized. Class-I occupancy will be granted for areas up to 400 sqm (including a 2m buffer). “A strict…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Goa CM: Master Plan for Eco-sensitive Zones Approved, CZMP Next

PANAJI: On Friday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced in the House that the zonal master plan for eco-sensitive areas is complete. He mentioned that the government has received authorization to draft the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for 2019. Once finalized, structures located within 50 meters of the high tide line in urban areas will benefit, he stated. MLAs emphasized the importance of completing the CZMP 2019 to support traditional coastal residents. Calangute MLA Michael Lobo urged for regular inspections by the tourism department regarding the licenses and insurance documentation of water sports operators to prevent accidents. Lobo pointed out…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Goa Proposes Bill to Lower Stamp Duty in Certain Cases

PANAJI: On Wednesday, the state government introduced a bill aimed at reducing the stamp duty burden on mortgagors for properties mortgaged without possession. The bill also seeks to promote the registration of family trust deeds. According to the Indian Stamp (Goa Amendment) Bill, 2025, the proposed reduction in stamp duty for mortgages and trusts may impact state revenue, but the exact loss cannot be quantified at this time. This initiative is part of a broader effort to rationalize stamp duty on such instruments. The bill establishes a stamp duty of Rs 1,000 for mortgage deeds, excluding certain agreements (e.g., title…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Two Extra Years to Regularize Illegal Structures in Goa

PANAJI: The government introduced an amendment to the Goa Regularisation of Unauthorised Construction Act, 2016, on Monday, offering a new two-year timeframe for individuals to apply for the regularisation of unauthorised constructions. This amendment includes cases where unauthorised house constructions have occurred on land owned by comunidade or the government. Such land must have already been regularised by the authorized officer in case of comunidade land, and by the deputy collector for government land. The built-up area limits are revised to allow regularisation up to 500 sqm in panchayat areas and up to 600 sqm in municipal council or Corporation…

IndustryLatest Stories

Goa CM: New Law to Curb Illegal Home Construction Soon

PORVORIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced in the assembly on Wednesday that the government will soon introduce legislation to prevent further illegal house constructions. He stated that the state would reopen applications under the current act, allowing locals to legalize their homes built on their own land. In light of a high court ruling on illegal constructions, Sawant emphasized that local authorities have been instructed to take action solely against buildings on land designated for national highways, state highways, or major district roads. He clarified that the court’s ruling on illegal structures pertains only to those specific cases. The Chief…