VASCO
South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho, accusing him of misleading the public about the controversial Rs550-crore flyover project and alleging that the structure was designed to facilitate coal and cargo transportation rather than ease traffic congestion.
Speaking to reporters in Vasco, Fernandes said the minister had initially justified the massive flyover project on the grounds of decongesting roads and preventing accidents, but was now openly admitting that it was meant for cargo movement from the port.
“Godinho was the one who proposed this flyover claiming it was to decongest the roads and reduce accidents at bottlenecks. That was a big fat lie,” Fernandes said. “We had said from the very beginning that this flyover was intended for coal transportation, and now it has turned out to be true.”
The MP further alleged that the project was part of a larger conspiracy to undermine the Dabolim Airport’s operations and indirectly benefit the privately operated airport at Mopa. “This entire flyover was a conspiracy to shut down Dabolim Airport. By raising the height of the flyover, they are creating a situation where pilots will face difficulty landing aircraft at Dabolim. Once that happens, they will simply blame the pilots and claim helplessness,” Fernandes said.
He accused the minister of favouring vested interests during the development of the Mopa Airport. “Let Godinho clarify who sold 37 properties to the Deltin casino group at Mopa while the airport was under construction,” Fernandes alleged.
“He should clearly state whether he was involved or not. Otherwise, we are prepared to release the 37 sale deeds we obtained through RTI, showing which minister was behind these large-scale land sales.”
Fernandes also hit out at the government for allegedly violating aviation safety norms and misleading Parliament over permissions for the flyover construction. “The height of this flyover exceeds the permissible limit laid down by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Even the High Court has now agreed that the structure violates safety norms and directed that 17 pillars be cut down to reduce its height,” he said. “When a common citizen wants to build a house near the airport, he must obtain naval permission for height. Then how did the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) construct a massive flyover without seeking necessary clearances?”
The South Goa MP said he had raised the issue in Parliament, but Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had incorrectly stated that all permissions had been taken. “That was another lie made in Parliament,” Fernandes said. “Who informed Gadkari that all permissions were taken? This entire conspiracy was exposed only after concerned citizens approached the court, which promptly intervened and ordered corrective action.”
Fernandes blamed Godinho for putting government officers in jeopardy by allegedly directing them to proceed with construction despite regulatory violations. “Godinho was trying to build this flyover without permissions and has put several officers in serious trouble,” Fernandes said. “We will definitely file a case against those officers because they have to answer for their actions. Ministers will take their 30 per cent commission and walk away, while officers will face legal consequences. Let this be a lesson ” next time, they should refuse to carry out such illegal instructions.”
Fernandes concluded that the episode reflected a deeper rot in the system and said accountability must begin from the top. “This is not development; it is deception,” he said. “The people of Goa deserve transparency, not lies, and the truth about this flyover and its purpose must come out in full view of the public.”
