File photo of Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane launching development projects in Margao last month.
MARGAO
With the party leadership banking on PWDMinister Digambar Kamat to wrest the Margao Assembly seat after a gap of 17years, the government appears to be going all out to support developmentalinitiatives in the constituency.
The BJP had last won the Margao seat in the2002 Assembly elections, when Kamat was a member of the party. However, afterhe joined the Congress in 2005, the BJP failed to regain the constituency, withsuccessive attempts to wrest the seat proving unsuccessful.
Now, with Kamat back in the BJP and serving asa Minister in the Pramod Sawant-led government following his defection from theCongress along with seven other MLAs in 2022, the party is evidently looking toreclaim the Margao seat in the 2027 Assembly elections.
In this backdrop, it is worth noting that thegovernment has been backing the PWD Minister in pushing a series ofdevelopmental projects in the constituency. Last month, Urban DevelopmentMinister Vishwajit Rane launched two major projects in Margao, including thepuzzle parking project and the refurbishment of the Margao Municipal Councilbuilding.
On Wednesday, the Director of MunicipalAdministration issued a notice inviting tenders for consultancy services forthe development of a multipurpose sports arena at Calconda on a 5,789-square-metreplot. The proposed facility will include futsal and pickleball courts, awalking track, illumination and other modern sports and recreational amenities.
That is not all. The Director of MunicipalAdministration has also issued a notice inviting tenders for the redevelopmentand landscaping of the Margao Municipal Garden.
In another significant development, theDirector has accorded administrative approval for the release of grants-in-aidamounting to Rs 53 lakh to the Margao Municipal Council under the Solid WasteManagement Fund. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has also sanctioned funds for theconstruction of a footbridge on the Aquem side of the Margao railway station.
With a series of projects being rolled out orcleared for implementation, the government appears keen to give Margao adevelopmental push, a move that could also have political implications as theBJP prepares for the 2027 Assembly elections.
