Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has a special affection for Goa. Whether it’s helping the BJP come to power in Goa by securing the support of other MLAs, even when 13 BJP MLAs were elected, or overseeing the construction of multi-crore flyovers and highway projects connecting Goa to South India, Gadkari has been a key figure in the state's development. In his speeches, he often claims that there is no shortage of funds—just decide on a project, and the money is available! Recently, Gadkari visited Goa, inaugurating the Vasco flyover worth Rs 645 crore and laying the foundation for five new projects worth Rs 4,200 crore. It would not be wrong to say that Nitin Gadkari is a major source of funding for Goa. Thousands of crores are being allocated solely for roads and bridges.
There is no doubt that Goa is an international tourism hub, and tourism is the backbone of its economy. For this, it is essential that Goa is equipped with proper infrastructure. However, these six-lane highways and flashy flyovers are not the only measure of development for Goa. It’s crucial to examine how much, and in what way, these projects actually benefit the growth of Goa’s tourism industry. In his inauguration speech, Gadkari also took the opportunity to admonish the state government, urging them to take responsibility.
While large-scale highways and bridges are being constructed, it’s important to note that the number of road accidents and fatalities in Goa does not seem to be decreasing. As Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho had requested, Rs 100 crore was immediately sanctioned by Gadkari to address the dangerous 'black spots' on highways that lead to accidents. But how many of these black spots have been removed so far? How much money has been spent? The government has not provided any public accountability on this matter. In fact, Mauvin Godinho has been evading responsibility, citing the absence of Public Works Department officials at road safety committee meetings.
There are plans, and there is funding. But without resistance to poor administration, there will be no proper implementation. The Chief Minister, who claimed that Goa received Rs 40,000 crore in the last 11 years, should be seriously concerned that nearly Rs 150 crore of funds allocated to MLAs in his own state remain unspent by the end of the year. After a review meeting on the implementation of the last budget, it was revealed that 24 government departments spent only 30% of their sanctioned funds, and nearly Rs 1,200 crore remains unutilised. Whose fault is this? Who needs to take control of the administration? Does this not contradict the grand development projects like the Divya Highway and flyovers that cost thousands of crores?
Gadkari has clearly stated that after the completion of these large-scale infrastructure projects, Goa will experience a record increase in tourism. However, Goa does not have a master plan to manage this influx. And he’s right. The planning for a master plan is still far from completion. Moreover, the government has failed to follow through on its plan to transform the capital city, Panaji, into a smart city within the proposed timeline. It is a clear government failure that ordinary citizens have had to approach the High Court for this issue. Despite opposition, the government has permitted the EDM festival to take place in the name of tourism development, while the essential app-based taxi service required by tourists is still not operational. This is the state of planning and will under this government.
Former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu, during his last visit to Goa, advised the state to build as many projects as it can afford. However, the current government seems unwilling to take this advice seriously. This is primarily because most of Goa’s land has been acquired by large capitalists from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. Considering the rich prefer Goa as a second home, these capitalists have invested billions of rupees in Goa through mega projects—multi-million-dollar six- to eight-lane highways, flyovers, casinos, and cheap alcohol all serve as attractions for the wealthy with second homes. Sadly, the original 'Bhumiputra' (sons of the soil) of Goa are fast disappearing from the map.