Girish Chodankar Alleges ₹5,000-Crore Dona Paula Land Scam; Questions ₹1-Lakh-Crore Commercial Development Potential

Congress Accuses BJP Government of Sacrificing Goan Youth’s Employment Opportunities; Vows to Scrap Controversial PPP Convention Centre Project if Voted to Power in 2027

Goa Khabar: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar has accused the BJP-led government headed by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant of facilitating an alleged ₹5,000-crore land scam at Dona Paula by allowing the commercial development of prime public land originally earmarked for the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat project.

Addressing a press conference in Panaji on Monday, Chodankar presented land records, maps, tender documents and financial calculations to question the allocation of approximately 3.46 lakh square metres of land under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

He alleged that land with an estimated market value of approximately ₹5,100 crore was being offered under a concession arrangement involving an upfront payment of just ₹108 crore.

Chodankar further claimed that the commercial development potential of the property could reach ₹1 lakh crore under a scenario involving a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 3.0 and extensive commercialisation.

These figures were presented as Congress estimates and allegations, and have not been independently verified.

### BJP Has Destroyed Employment Dreams of Goan Youth: Chodankar

Chodankar alleged that the BJP government had betrayed thousands of educated Goan youth by abandoning the original Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat project, which was intended to generate approximately 10,000 employment opportunities.

He recalled that around 2,85,296 square metres of land had been transferred in June 2000 for the establishment of the IT Habitat at Dona Paula.

The foundation stone of the project was laid on February 23, 2006, by then Congress President Sonia Gandhi during the tenure of Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane and IT Minister Dayanand Narvekar.

The project was expected to attract investments of approximately ₹400 crore and create thousands of jobs in the information technology sector.

However, it stalled in December 2007 following protests over land allotments and development-related concerns.

Chodankar recalled that Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate was among the prominent political figures who had opposed the project.

He alleged that instead of reviving the IT Habitat and generating employment, the BJP government was now facilitating commercial development on the same land.

He questioned why educated Goans were being forced to seek employment outside the state while valuable public land intended for IT development was being diverted towards commercial interests.

### ₹5,100-Crore Land Valuation Against ₹108-Crore Upfront Fee

Presenting details of the proposed development, Chodankar said the project covered two land parcels measuring 2,61,203 square metres and 84,655 square metres, respectively, totalling 3,45,858 square metres.

According to the calculations presented by Congress, the land could be valued at approximately ₹5,100 crore by applying an assumed market rate of ₹1.50 lakh per square metre.

However, the upfront concession fee was reportedly only ₹108 crore.

Chodankar questioned the difference of approximately ₹4,992 crore between the estimated land valuation and the upfront concession payment.

He demanded that the government disclose the complete valuation methodology, concession terms, revenue-sharing arrangements and other financial benefits associated with the PPP project.

The comparison, however, does not by itself establish a financial loss, as the value of land ownership and the terms of a long-term development concession are not necessarily equivalent.

### Chodankar Raises Questions Over ₹1-Lakh-Crore Development Potential

The Congress leader also questioned the possible commercial value of the project if the land were developed with FAR 300, equivalent to an FAR of 3.0.

He claimed that extensive commercial development could potentially generate a project value of approximately ₹1 lakh crore.

Chodankar demanded clarification on the permissible FAR, proposed land-use changes, planning permissions and approvals for hospitality, convention and other commercial activities.

He questioned how land originally reserved for an IT Habitat could be considered for large-scale commercial development without adequately safeguarding public interests.

### Congress Questions PPP Concession to Valor Estate Limited

Chodankar identified Valor Estate Limited, formerly DB Realty, as the private developer associated with the proposed PPP concession.

Referring to the tendering process, he cited the November 2025 Request for Proposal, January 23, 2026 pre-bid clarifications, March 18 Letter of Award and July 28 concession agreement.

He demanded an independent examination of the entire process to determine whether the government had secured appropriate value for the public land.

Chodankar also called for the disclosure of comparative financial bids, project approvals and concession conditions.

### Pramod Sawant and Babush Monserrate Questioned

Chodankar raised questions about the roles of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate in the approval process.

He alleged that the project had been approved under Sawant’s leadership and questioned Monserrate’s alleged role in facilitating permissions through local authorities.

Referring to Monserrate’s earlier opposition to the IT Habitat project, Chodankar questioned why the land was now being considered for commercial development.

He demanded that all decisions taken by government departments, local bodies and planning authorities be made public.

### Officials Facilitating Irregularities Will Be Held Accountable: Congress

Chodankar warned government officials against facilitating any irregularities in the proposed development.

He said officers involved in processing files, granting permissions or approving land-use changes must act in accordance with their statutory responsibilities.

He maintained that officials found responsible for irregularities should face appropriate accountability.

### Congress Vows to Scrap Convention Centre Project in 2027

Making a major political announcement, Chodankar declared that Congress would scrap the controversial PPP Convention Centre project if it formed the government in Goa following the 2027 Assembly elections.

He said Congress would not allow valuable public land originally intended to create employment opportunities for Goan youth to be diverted towards commercial interests.

Chodankar asserted that employment generation, technology investment and the future of educated Goans must remain central to the state’s development policies.

He also said Congress would confront Monserrate politically but would not compromise the interests of Goan youth.

### Congress Demands Immediate Cancellation of PPP Tender

The GPCC demanded the immediate cancellation of the controversial PPP tender and a comprehensive examination of the decisions leading to the proposed development.

The party also sought public disclosure of the concession agreement, tender documents, financial bids, valuation reports, planning permissions, land-use approvals and related government records.

Chodankar questioned why the government had failed to revive a project that was originally expected to generate approximately 10,000 jobs.

He maintained that Congress would continue raising the issue and demanding accountability over the utilisation of valuable public land.

The allegations, financial estimates and claims regarding the project were made by Chodankar during the Congress press conference. The responses of the Goa government, the ministers named and the developer were not included in the press note.