CM Sawant Lays foundation Stone for construction of Ravindra Bhavan
TUEM: Tuem will soon have its own cultural landmark as Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new Ravindra Bhavan, marking the state’s push to take arts and community infrastructure beyond Panaji and Margao. The project, to be executed by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), is envisioned as a modern and integrated cultural hub for North Goa. It will house an auditorium, art galleries, training spaces, and open performance areas aimed at giving local artists, theatre groups, and youth a dedicated platform for creative expression. “This is not just a building, it is a space where Goa’s identity in art, music, and theatre will be preserved and promoted for the next generation,” Sawant said at the ceremony.
He added that the government wants every taluka to have access to professional-grade cultural facilities so that talent from Pernem, Mandrem, and Bicholim does not always have to travel to the capital for exposure.
The event brought together the state’s key North Goa leadership. Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte joined Sawant on stage, along with Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar, Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar, who is also Chairman of GSIDC Ltd., and MLAs Michael Lobo, Dr. Chandrakant Shetye, and Rudolfo Fernandes. Khaunte said the new hub could become a stop on Goa’s cultural tourism circuit, giving visitors an experience beyond beaches and churches. “Tourism is not just sun and sand. It is also our Konkani theatre, folk music, and art. Tuem can now host that story,” he said.
Godinho noted that improved road connectivity to Tuem from Mapusa and Pernem would ensure the facility is accessible to rural communities. GSIDC Chairman Pravin Arlekar said the corporation would ensure the project is delivered on time with transparent execution. Tuem, located on the Goa-Maharashtra border, has long been a quiet agrarian belt with limited public infrastructure for arts.
The new Ravindra Bhavan is expected to act as a catalyst for community engagement, school programmes, and regional festivals. Local artists present at the event said the lack of a proper auditorium has forced them to hold performances in school halls or open grounds for years.
The foundation stone laying comes as the government accelerates cultural infrastructure projects across Goa, with similar upgrades planned for Sankhali and Canacona. For residents of Pernem taluka, Thursday’s ceremony signals that Tuem is now firmly on the state’s cultural map.
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