VASCO:
Refusing any immediate approval for the proposed doubling of the railway track
of South Western Railway (SWR), Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida made it clear to SWR
authorities that he would not make any commitment on the project, until they
furnish a feasibility report.
He
also claimed that before giving a green signal, people of Vasco want to know
how many will get affected, how many new trains would start and how the new
project would benefit people.
Speaking
on the sidelines of an inspection to check how many houses will be affected by
the double tracking of the route till Vasco station, he said, “It is very
premature to say anything on the proposed project as I am yet to see the
feasibility report that would benefit people of Vasco. Secondly I have asked
them to show how many new trains including Vasco to Bombay, Vasco to Mangalore
would start. If the same is not feasible then I don’t think that Vasco people
need a double track,” he said.
Almeida
added, “I have asked them to take Municipal Council, comunidade and locals into
confidence and only then go for an inspection. As per their plan there are many
houses identified whose compound wall or even house would have to be demolished.”
After
a similar inspection at Dabolim railway station, Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho
claimed that the project is the need of the hour as it would help in
development of Mormugao port and be useful for increasing passenger traffic
which in turn would decongest the roads as more cargo from MPT would move
through the rail.
“As
far as Dabolim areas are concerned, the affect would not be at Dabolim as there
are not many houses located close to the railway track. I have told the railway
authorities to be more sensitive towards public utilities and need. I have
asked them to give their NOC to develop and beautification project near railway
bridge at New Vaddem as the area had become a suicide point for the locals.”
