On Monday, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) instructed Goa’s tourism department to stop excavation work for a development project in Old Goa to ensure "proper documentation" after cannonballs, possibly from a Portuguese-era arsenal, were uncovered. The development project, which includes building a tourist facilitation centre and a parking lot, is being carried out under the Union Ministry of Tourism’s PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive) scheme.

In a press release, Dr Kishore Raghubans, the Assistant Superintending Archaeologist at ASI, stated that cannonballs were found at the site during clearance work.  “Consequently, the ASI instructed the tourism department to pause work to allow proper documentation through photography, drawings and reports. This process is ongoing and is expected to take some time,”  Kishore Raghubans stated.

On Sunday, hundreds of people gathered in Old Goa to protest against large-scale tree-cutting and excavation work in the area. They claimed the land was being cleared for a proposed mall near the Basilica of Bom Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The protesters argued that since the location is a heritage zone and is believed to contain the remains of an old church, no construction should be allowed within 100 meters of the site.

On Monday, the Department of Tourism clarified that “no mall is being constructed in the area.” The department explained that the project is “designed to enhance the visitor experience while preserving the heritage significance of the area.” “Following directives from the Archaeological Survey of India, the work has been temporarily halted and will resume once clearance from ASI is received,” as per the department.

According to the Director of Tourism, Kedar Naik: “The project focuses solely on enhancing visitor facilities, including the development of a parking area, an information centre, and improved lighting for the monument. All necessary permissions… have been duly obtained, and work has commenced in accordance with the required guidelines. At present, only the site clearance process has commenced. An application for an NOC from the panchayat has been submitted, and all necessary permissions will be obtained before any construction begins.”

“Key developments include the construction of a parking lot, a dedicated tourist facilitation centre, and improved external lighting with streetlights in the parking area. The initiative also features monument facade illumination, e-auto services to facilitate tourist movement, along with comfortable seating arrangements and improved signage for better navigation,” the department further stated.