PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday debunked claims that his predecessor, the late Manohar Parrikar, had rejected the South Western Railways’ double-tracking project.
“Manohar Parrikar had never rejected railway double-tracking,” Sawant said in a riposte to a national television network when the interviewer mentioned Parrikar’s rejection of the project.
Sawant further said Parrikar had written that concerns of the people whose homes were on the block for the project should be taken into consideration and wherever possible adjustments should be made.
The chief minister also insisted that the railway double-tracking was not connected to coal transportation. On persistent questioning, Sawant said, it’s a national project and not for any specific single purpose.
“Other commodities will also be transported. Passenger trains may come for tourism purpose,” Sawant said and repeated his claim that coal handled at MPT will be reduced by 50 per-cent from current levels.
