Saldanha said that South Goa objected to the South Western Railway’s (SWR) doubling of tracks from Castle Rock to Vasco as it would lead to destruction of villages by way of demolition of houses, religious structures, and heritage.
She also informed that the villagers repeatedly requested a road over rail bridge (ROB) at the Cansaulim-Arossim junction, a road under rail bridge (RUB) from Pisolem to Mollo in the Velsao-Pale-Issorcim panchayat, and a pedestrian bridge and road for two-wheelers at the southern end of the Cansaulim railway station.
She recalled how former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, on the SWR doubling issue, publicly said, “Whatever has come for permission we have refused; TCP has also refused.”
Regarding the railway crossing and ROB issues with Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC), Saldanha referred to the Oza Commission that was formed consequent to the Konkan Railway Realignment Agitation in 1991and which had proposed measures to ease the hardships of the locals.
“The Oza Commission very categorically asked the KRC to construct an RUB/ROB wherever required. KRC at that time readily agreed to consider and implement all these demands. But, the reality in Cortalim constituency is totally different,” said Saldanha.
She also lamented how the KRC’s arbitrary decision to close the level-crossing on the Cuelim-Nagoa road prevented farmers from taking machinery/equipment to their fields, and also affected emergency response units and the general public.
She further referred to a letter written in 2008 by KRC to the Cansaulim-Arrosim-Cuelim panchayat offering to construct an ROB there provided the government sanctioned funds. Noting that this was contrary to the Oza Commission’s recommendations and the KRC’s assurances, Saldanha rued the lack of progress on the project even after six years and numerous meetings between KRC and government agencies.
