The railways have sounded its horn. Despite strong opposition from Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha and the affected villagers, Rail Nigam Ltd has moved the South Goa Collector for acquiring land for its track doubling project in Mormugao.
The railways want to procure 35,000 sqmts of land covering areas of Majorda, Cansaulim, Velsao Pale, Issoricm, Dabolim, Chicalim and Vasco. While there has been little headway in discussions of the officials and respective MLAs, there is a strong opposition to the doubling with Alina spearheading a movement of villagers.
Backing Alina are panchayats of Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim (CAC), Velsao-Pale-Issorcim (VPI) and Sancaole. The doubling of line is seen to benefit a few business houses which are associated with coal operations at MPT. The opposition has their reasons from dividing the village topography, to concerns over damage to houses and heritage structures. On the other side of the fence is Panchayat Minister and Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho who has been supporting the South Western Railway project. He claims that the double-laning is the need of the hour and speaks of rehabilitation packages to those affected. According to Mauvin it would not only improve the life style of the
people in Goa, but would also help in generating employment. Mauvin needs to throw more light on how a dedicated line used to transport coal will change local life styles and how will Goa gain in terms of employment.
The interest of locals has to be protected as the line doubling will also increase the railway traffic substantially. The line is passing through residential areas and there are some heritage structures which need to be protected. Although the railways have enough land in their possession to go ahead with the double laning, sentiment of the affected people should be addressed on priority.
The railways must also explain to the people about the benefits to Goa. They must chalk out a plan on how they will save houses from the impact of double laning and also explain the rehabilitation packages which Mauvin is speaking of. The past doesn't speak favourably of the SWR. There were people's pleas to construct road over rail bridge at Cansaulim-Arossim junction at Cansaulim, road under rail bridge from Pisolem to Mollo in Velsao-Pale and a pedestrian bridge along with a road for two wheelers at the southern end of Cansaulim railway station. Nothing has materialized.
While there is strong opposition on the ground, what remains to be seen is how chief minister Manohar Parrikar approaches the issue. Alina is of the firm belief and has even quoted Parrikar saying that the doubling of tracks will benefit a select few. That was a good two years back. While the railways are firm on their project, another test of Goenkarponn awaits Parrikar in South Goa.
