Margao: A Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) inspection of the old Margao bus stand has triggered concern among gadda owners, who on Wednesday met Margao MLA Digambar Kamat seeking assurances that any redevelopment of the site would not jeopardise their livelihoods.Seeking to allay fears, Kamat said no decision affecting vendors would be taken without consulting them. “The gaddawale, taxiwale, rickshawwale and motorcycle pilots are my brand ambassadors. They support me every election, and I protect their interests. Nothing will be done that will harm their livelihoods,” he told reporters after meeting the delegation.Kamat clarified that the GSIDC team’s visit was linked to a proposal from Centre to set up a food court at the site and not to any finalised redevelopment plan. He said the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) had earlier passed a resolution seeking redevelopment of the old bus stand and forwarded it to GSIDC but added that no discussions on the project had been held with him so far.He also assured that women vendors selling seasonal vegetables near the police station would be rehabilitated within the redeveloped area and that adequate parking would be provided in the project design.The vendors’ concerns stem from the absence of a rehabilitation roadmap. As reported by TOI in March, GSIDC had appointed a Panaji-based consultancy firm for the redevelopment project in Nov 2025, but no rehabilitation plan for affected vendors had been prepared, nor had any consultations been held with them.
