Even though the new district of Kushawati has been announced, a complete administrative setup is not yet ready. Because of this, many people from the region are still visiting the South Goa District Collectorate office in Margao for government services.
Srinet Kothwale, Additional Collector-I at Margao, said that several committees have been formed to handle administrative matters of the proposed third district. Many cases are currently being managed by these committees and the sub-collector offices, which has helped people, especially those living in remote areas of South Goa.
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“At present, everything is being handled at the sub-collector offices. For major cases, and since there is no full administrative office yet for the third district, people are still coming to Margao. However, most cases are being processed online,” Kothwale said.
He added that setting up a new district takes time as it requires extra staff, office buildings and other administrative arrangements.
Officials said the Government of Goa is working on the required budget for the functioning of the third district. Once the administrative system is fully ready, people from the region will be able to access most services locally without travelling to Margao.
The state government announced the creation of Goa’s third district, Kushawati, in December 2025. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the district is named after the Kushawati river that flows through the region and represents its geographical and cultural identity. The new district will include four talukas — Sanguem, Quepem, Dharbandora and Canacona — with Quepem as the district headquarters.
The government said the new district will improve governance, bring services closer to people and speed up development in the region. Plans have also been made to improve connectivity, including road upgrades and special bus services between Canacona and Quepem for easier travel to the district headquarters.
Until the full setup is ready, the South Goa Collector will continue to oversee the four talukas that will become part of the new district.
However, the formation of the third district has faced opposition. Some residents and political leaders, especially from Canacona, have objected to the inclusion of their taluka in the new district.
They argue that Canacona has better transport links with Margao, the current South Goa headquarters, than with Quepem. Many buses run daily between Canacona and Margao, making travel easier for administrative work. In comparison, connectivity to Quepem is limited.
Some local groups and gram sabhas in Canacona have passed resolutions opposing the move. They claim the government did not properly consult residents before announcing the decision. Some leaders have demanded that Canacona be removed from the proposed district, saying the change may cause inconvenience instead of improving services.
Despite the concerns, the government maintains that the new district will bring long-term benefits by improving infrastructure, governance and development in the region.
For now, until Kushawati district becomes fully operational, the Margao Collectorate will continue handling many services for residents of the four talukas.
