PANAJI: The Chief Minister’s Office today clarified that reports suggesting land acquisition for coal handling in connection with the Hospet–Vasco double-tracking project are “incorrect.”
Indian Railways has notified plans to acquire about 6,000 sq m of land in South Goa villages—Cansaulim, Sancoale and Issorcim—for the Hospet–Tinaighat–Vasco-da-Gama track doubling project. The notice specifies that the land, with or without structures, will be acquired for the project, with public feedback being sought.
According to the CMO, citing Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), the limited acquisition is “solely for banking/stabilisation support to safeguard nearby houses, provision of road access to landowners, and correction of alignment mismatches identified in earlier surveys.”
The note added that the double-tracking project will facilitate tourism development and faster movement of existing freight, including coal, while reducing incidental pollution by decreasing exposure time. It reiterated that no capacity expansion of coal transportation will be permitted in the State.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, speaking to reporters yesterday, had also stressed that coal handling in Goa will not exceed permissible limits, pointing out that the Railway Ministry has said the project is aimed at boosting tourism and trade.
