A fresh tender worth ₹3.17 crore issued by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation for the incomplete hospital project in Collem has sparked concern among local residents, who are questioning the need for funds allocated to works they claim have already been completed.
The tender covers key components such as lift installation, plumbing, firefighting systems, and electrical work. However, villagers allege that several of these facilities were already executed during earlier phases of construction, raising doubts about duplication of work and transparency in fund utilisation.
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The hospital project, which has been under development for nearly eight years, remains unfinished despite repeated assurances. Ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had stated that the hospital would soon become operational. However, following a change in the local MLA after the elections, the project continued to face delays.
Public anger intensified just days ago after the death of a local youth, reportedly due to the absence of immediate first-aid facilities in the area. The incident triggered protests, with villagers gathering in large numbers and demanding the urgent completion of the long-pending hospital.
In response to the growing outcry, the Chief Minister recently assured residents that the hospital would be completed by October. While locals have welcomed the renewed commitment, they have emphasised the need for strict monitoring of the project, particularly in light of the new tender that has raised questions about possible duplication of work.
Residents are now seeking clarity from authorities on how public funds will be utilised, insisting that accountability and transparency must be ensured as the project moves forward.
