The Goa government has issued a clarification dismissing reports that additional land is being acquired for coal handling under the Hospet-Vasco double tracking project.
According to the state, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has confirmed that the limited acquisition of 0.6 hectares of land in Cansaulim, Sancoale, and Issorcim villages is solely for technical purposes. These include banking and stabilisation support to protect nearby houses, provision of road access to landowners, and correction of alignment mismatches identified in earlier surveys.
The government reiterated that the project is aimed at boosting tourism development and enabling faster movement of existing freight, including coal, while reducing incidental pollution by shortening exposure time. It further stressed that no capacity expansion for coal transportation will be permitted in Goa.