Panaji: The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) is working on plans to revive the Ribandar football ground. The project, initially planned as part of the smart city mission’s revitalisation plan for Ribandar, is now being reworked by CCP mayor Rohit Monserrate.Monserrate recently met with the sports and youth affairs director, Ajay Gaude, to discuss the way ahead, a meeting that the mayor described as a “constructive interaction.”“The ground holds immense value for local residents, sports enthusiasts, and young athletes. Exploring ways to strengthen and enhance such spaces is important to ensuring that future generations have access to better facilities and opportunities to pursue their sporting aspirations,” said Monserrate.Ribandar has only one playground where local youth play football and cricket. CCP wants to strengthen sports infrastructure in the locality by creating spaces where individuals of all ages can come together through recreation, fitness, and sport.Monserrate also held a meeting with IPSCDL chief executive officer and revenue secretary Sandip Jacques to review matters related to the proposed development of Ribandar ground and to discuss the way forward for the project.Monserrate said that authorities are currently deliberating on the key requirements for the ground while also exploring practical avenues to fund and build the ground.The football ground atop the plateau had been converted into a dumping yard for raw material being used for smart city projects being executed in Ribandar.
