Panaji, November 2: In a significant development, the Goa government has cancelled its earlier tender for the proposed IT International Convention Centre at Tuem Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC), only to float a fresh tender offering a 60-year concession period to the private developer, double the 30 years proposed earlier.

The Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), through Director Kabir K. Shirgaonkar, issued an official cancellation notice dated October 30, 2026, withdrawing the earlier tender issued on September 9.

However, on the same day, the department issued a fresh Request for Proposal (RFP) for the proposed ₹140-crore convention centre under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The revised tender offers a 60-year concession, raising questions about the government’s decision to extend the private operator’s tenure over land originally acquired for electronics manufacturing.

Under the revised arrangement, the private concessionaire will hold a 51% equity stake, while the government department will retain 49%. The proposal also provides for quarterly revenue sharing over 120 quarters following project completion. The deadline for submission of bids is November 12, with bid opening scheduled for November 13.

Opposition from Tuem villagers

The fresh tender comes amid growing opposition from the Tuem Nagrik Samiti and local villagers, who have questioned the diversion of land acquired for the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster towards a commercial convention centre.

The Samiti, through secretary Jose C. Lobo, has raised concerns over the project’s land-use framework, lack of public consultation, infrastructure requirements and unresolved Alvara land claims. It has maintained that the EMC land was originally intended to promote electronics manufacturing and employment opportunities for Goan youth.

At Sunday’s Tuem gram sabha, villagers also unanimously opposed the convention centre and demanded that the carrying capacity of the village be assessed before permitting further commercial projects.

Questions over revised tender conditions

The government’s decision to cancel the earlier tender and immediately issue another with a substantially longer concession period has brought the project’s commercial terms into focus.

The earlier tender reportedly received limited bidder response. However, the cancellation notice itself does not explain the reasons for withdrawing it.

The central question now is why a project originally proposed with a 30-year concession requires a 60-year arrangement, and what additional safeguards will protect public land, local employment opportunities and the interests of traditional landholders.

While the government continues to pursue the convention centre, the opposition from local residents and the unresolved questions surrounding land use and public consultation remain.