Cortalim Congress leader Olencio Simoes, along with local villagers, has strongly criticized the Goa government and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, for spending ₹270 crore on the construction of twin towers at the Zuari cable-stayed bridge in Cortalim. Simoes argued that the funds should have been allocated toward fixing Goa’s deteriorating road infrastructure and addressing 61 identified accident-prone black spots across the state.
Highlighting the alarming state of road safety, Simoes pointed out that India loses nearly 1.78 lakh lives annually to road accidents, with Goa already recording 22 fatal accidents this year alone.
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“The government is prioritizing extravagant vanity projects over essential public infrastructure,” said Simoes. “Despite being home to two major industrial estates—Sancoale and Verna—Cortalim still faces frequent and disruptive power cuts, sometimes more than three to four times a day, which affects not only households but also causes heavy losses to businesses.”
He further emphasized the lack of basic civic amenities in the constituency. “Residents receive only two to three hours of water supply daily and are forced to depend on water tankers. There’s no proper garbage segregation, no waste treatment plant, and no sewerage system, even as large housing projects are being proposed,” he added.
Simoes called on the Chief Minister of Goa to reallocate funds toward resolving these pressing issues and improving the quality of life in Cortalim. “Our demands are basic—reliable electricity, consistent water supply, waste management, and safer roads. The government must act now and stop spending taxpayers’ money on showpiece infrastructure,” he said.
