The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee has sharply criticized the state government for pushing ahead with the controversial double tracking of railway lines, accusing it of undermining public rights and ignoring environmental concerns. The party has invoked the strong opposition once voiced by former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to bolster its stance.
Back in 2013, Parrikar had categorically rejected the proposal, stating, “I have refused the permission to double the track of South Western Railway in Goa. We don’t want it.” He argued that a single line was sufficient for the state’s needs and alleged that the project served the interests of a few industries aiming to transport coal from the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT). Calling the project an “MPT fraud,” Parrikar insisted that while track doubling could be considered up to the state boundary, no such expansion would be allowed within Goa.
The Congress is now using Parrikar’s own words to question the current government’s support for the project. The party argues that not only does it contradict Parrikar’s earlier policy, but it also ignores growing public opposition and environmental warnings.
The double tracking project has faced stiff resistance from activists, environmentalists, and local communities, who fear the destruction of forests and protected areas in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats. These concerns have also been echoed by the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowerment Committee, which cautioned that the project could cause irreversible damage to this vital biodiversity hotspot.
By referencing Parrikar’s past position, the Congress is underscoring the environmental risks and the government’s apparent disregard for both public sentiment and ecological preservation.