Aguada jail to be revamped as tourist spot by March
What's the story
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that the renovation of the historic jail at Aguada, which no longer houses prisoners and is being developed as a tourist spot, will be completed by March this year following which it be will be opened for visitors. "Around 90 percent work of the project has been completed," he added.
Details
Jail will have a museum depicting the state's liberation struggle
Sawant said, "We will complete the project in March this year after which it would become an important tourist attraction." "The Portuguese-era structure which is part of the historic Aguada Fort at Sinquerim village near the Mandovi river in North Goa district, will have a museum depicting the state's liberation struggle," he added.
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Two special cells dedicated to freedom fighters: Sawant
Sawant said, "Two special cells dedicated to freedom fighters TB Cunha and Ram Manohar Lohia, where they were jailed during the Portuguese rule, will be among the highlights of this tourist spot."
Information
Fort has been developed under Swadesh Darshan Scheme: GTDC
A senior official of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) said, "The iconic fort, which is a popular tourist destination, is being developed under the Centre's 'Swadesh Darshan Scheme' at an estimated cost of Rs. 22 crore." The prison at the fort was in use till 2015 following which it was denotified as a jail and handed over to the GTDC for renovation.
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Historical importance of the fort
Fort Aguada, the 17th-century structure, was the chief defense of the Portuguese against the Dutch and the Marathas. During the administration of Antonio de Oliveria Salazar, the Portuguese Prime Minister, it was re-purposed as a prison.