Modi to visit Goa twice in next two months: Parsekar

Panaji, Aug 16 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi willvisit Goa twice in the next two months, once to attend theBRICS summit scheduled in October, state Chief MinisterLaxmikant Parsekar said today. "Prime Minister Narendra Modiji would be in Goa in thesecond half of September to lay the foundation stone for threeimportant projects, including the Greenfield airport at Mopa(in North Goa)," Parsekar told reporters here after chairingthe State Cabinet meeting. "During his visit, the Prime Minister is also likelyto review the preparations for BRICS summit which is scheduledfor October 15-16 this year," the Chief Minister said. Parsekar reviewed the preparations for the BRICSsummit with all the departments concerned. As per the Chief Minister, Modi will again arrive inthe state on October 14 night to participate in the BRICSsummit. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and DefenceMinister Manohar Parrikar would also be representing India inthe summit, Parsekar added. The Chief Minister said all venues for the BRICSsummit would be in South Goa. Parsekar also said the organisers have booked threefive star hotels in South Goa where the event would be heldand delegates would be staying. The state government has already identified fivehospitals where special OPDs will function. "Beds are alsobooked in these hospitals as a part of emergency preparationsfor the summit," Parsekar added. Parsekar said the Goa government will request theDefence Ministry to station air ambulance in the coastal stateduring the event. "The state will also request the Centre to provideadditional forces to take care of the security during the highprofile event which will have heads of all BRICS countriesparticipating in it," he added. Officials said in yet another measure, the panchayatsaround the venues have been asked to clear illegal hoardingson the roadside. The Chief Minister said BRICS will provide a goldenopportunity for the state to showcase itself to the worldpositioning itself as a tourism destination. "We spend crores of rupees on hosting tourismroadshows in the countries from where the tourists neverarrive in Goa. By holding such events like BRICS we can doaway with the unwanted expenditure incurred on roadshows,"said Parsekar. PTI RPS NRB SMNBAS