Team Herald
PANJIM: The Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) in its submission before the Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has admitted that the double-tracking of railway line from Hospet –Vasco- Castlerock-Kulem will be used for transportation of coal for thermal and power projects, says the complainant Goa Foundation (GF).
In a detail note released by the GF on the proceedings held via a video conferencing before the CEC in a complaint filed by them, RVNL has said that the proposed project will be used for passenger and goods mostly iron ore and coal transport.
“Mostly iron ore. It will reduce the time for export of ore. It will be used to import coal for thermal and power projects. The project is part of the national Sagarmala Project, which is in national interest. Crores of money is invested,” RVNL justified as quoted by GF.
However, GF claimed that CEC countered the justification, stating that export of iron ore is hardly much and there are many sites already present in South India for the purpose. “Also Goa CM has made statement that the coal transport will be reduced in half. So what is the justification to this project? So what is the focus of this project?” questioned CEC as quoted by Goa Foundation .
