Goa Velha, Goa

The Town and Country Planning (TCP) department in Goa has granted final approval for 20 land conversion proposals, converting 31,718 sqm of land to settlement zones. This includes significant conversions in Pernem and Bardez, with some proposals involving ecologically sensitive areas. The approvals are subject to the outcome of ongoing writ petitions before the Bombay High Court.

The Goa government is proceeding with plans to four-lane a 33 km stretch of National Highway 4A through Mollem, despite environmental concerns and local opposition. The project, which passes through the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary, is expected to impact forest cover and wildlife, with approximately 7,000 trees slated for felling.

India's coastal real estate, including Goa, is undergoing a transformation driven by lifestyle aspirations. Improved connectivity, such as the near-completion of the Mumbai-Goa Highway and new ferry services, is integrating the Konkan region. This is unlocking new real estate corridors and shifting focus from vacation homes to year-round residential opportunities.

Protests are ongoing against Section 39A of Goa's Town and Country Planning Act, with demonstrators demanding its repeal. Critics argue this law, which allows for the conversion of land zones, including green zones, to 'settlement' areas, grants arbitrary powers, potentially harming Goa's ecology and undoing planned development by facilitating changes to regional plans.