Come the 51st Goa Liberation day and the ruins of a fort facing the natural harbour west of India at Mormugao Harbour will be promoted by the Archaeological Survey of India Goa .
There is a signage fixed at the foot of the newly cleared path way as one proceeds from Vasco-da-Gama city to Headland Sada junction and beyond towards the Mormugao Harbour down hill. It mentions thereon that the work of the fort commenced as late as 1624 (nearly 114 years after the Portuguese set foot in Goa on 25.11.1510 Feast of St Catherine ). There are 3 magazines five prisons a chapel (which is a living monument meaning feast is celebrated often to this day ) and quarters of the guard. There is also a range of 53 odd guns and a garrison with 4 officers apparently to guard the coast. The fort is an artistic wonder though was in neglect until the District Magistrate of South Goa who prior to retirment on attaining the age of superanuation this year end has taken steps to develop the fort and throw it open to the public. It is reliably learnt from a source that the area from the Head land side which is near the MPT new office at Sada was not easily accessible as there was a gate but now with the present entrance cleared one can walk up the steps and have a breath taking view of the from atop the Fort to the Mormugao Harbour. Recently the Port has a dedicated berth (where the earlier Mormugao Harbour Dona Paula launch used to operate ) for the cruise liners and this year already six cruise vessels anchored for a daylong sojourn.This Fort could therefore provide a breath taking site for the foreign tourists. At 0800 hrs IST for the first time the National Flag will be hoisted at the rampart of this Fort by the Minister for Power and MLA Mormugao Mr. Milind Naik and thereafter the fort would be easily accessible to all as a tourist destination. Incidentally the over 10 kms round architectural grandeur of this fort which needs to be upgraded for its potential will now received the attention it deserves from the ASI There is also a potential for a Hotel to come up near the venue at the lower end on the Port side but so long as this will cater to the common tourist it would be welcome Further there is scope to develop the fragmented portions of the erstwhile air field and have a aircraft museum erected at this venue on the Headland. However kudos to the District Collector Mr Agarwal for his vision and enthusiasm to clear up the ruins of the Mormugao Fort. >From the Mormugao Harbour end GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES, BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA) +91 98221 58584 (24 HRS) gonsalvesgodfre...@yahoo.co.in