Protesters at Sao Jose de Areal during an anti-coal and anti-track doubling demonstration.
MARGAO
It was a week marked by political fireworks as the ruling BJP and opposition parties locked horns following an announcement by Indian Railways declaring the commissioning of the controversial Vasco-Hospet track doubling project.
The Railways swiftly deleted the post after it sparked a political storm in Goa, with citizens and opposition leaders slamming the government and putting it squarely on the mat.
But, hold on. The controversial track doubling project may well emerge as the single-point election agenda for political parties of all hues in the run-up to the 2027 Goa Assembly election.
For, information has now revealed that the double track on the Goa stretch — excluding the ghat section — will only be fully ready for commissioning around February-March 2027, coinciding with the Goa Assembly elections.
This has thrown up a contentious and politically charged question: Will the project become a convenient “development” pitch for those in power, or a rallying point for the opposition to accuse the government of pushing through the project to facilitate coal transportation, despite public resistance?
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the ruling establishment have tried to allay public fears, asserting that the government will cap coal handling at the Mormugao Port. However, opposition parties remain unconvinced and are doubling down on their claim that the project is primarily designed to transform Goa into a coal hub, against the wishes of its people.
Despite the Indian Railways’ post on commissioning of the track doubling project, which was later deleted, ground realities tell a different story — work on the project is far from complete.
Inquiries conducted by 'The Goan' have revealed that the Goa stretch of the project — excluding the ghat section — will be completed in all respects only by March 2027.
Two critical stretches remain unfinished: One, the Cansaulim-Vasco (12 km): This key section connects the double line to Mormugao Port. The stretch has faced strong resistance from residents of Cansaulim, Velsao, Arossim, and other villages, who oppose the line running close to their homes. Work here is expected to be completed by May-June 2026. The 10-km Kalem–Collem stretch, falling on the eastern segment of the line, is likely to be completed only by March 2027, according to sources.
Privately, senior officials at Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) — the agency executing the project — have acknowledged that full completion of the Goa segment (excluding the ghat) will only happen by March 2027. As of now, RVNL has reportedly laid the double line on a stretch of 35-36 km since work began a little over half a decade ago.
With emotions running high and election season nearing, the controversial track doubling project is set to remain in the spotlight — both as a potential showcase of development and as a symbol of defiance by Goa’s civil society.
