MARGAO
Railway’s plan for doubling tracking of the Vasco-Cullem track ran into rough weather with the Cabinet Action Committee (CAC) saying a firm ‘No’ to the South Western Railway proposal for track doubling along the Margao-Vasco stretch.
In fact, CAC member and TCP Minister in the government has conveyed a strong message to the South Western Railway officials that Goa cannot be treated as a corridor, pointing out that Goa is small size in area, with the State just a quarter of a district of other states. “The CAC has made it clear that double tracking of the railway line will not be possible in Salcete, especially beyond Margao,” TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai told The Goan.
He said that the CAC had to take a strong stand keeping in mind the interests of the State and its citizens.
Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha, who was also invited for the meeting, made it categorically clear that the Railways cannot play with the heritage of the State, indicating that the double tracking cannot take place over
the heritage houses along the route.
Sources in the know said the high-level meeting was attended by General Manager, South Western Railways A K Gupta, senior officials of the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. The meeting was held since Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had told the railway officials to hold a presentation on the double tracking project, especially passing through the Margao-Vasco stretch. The meeting was also convened since the government was required to accord approval for the procurement of land in cases where there was consent of the parties to part with their land for the double tracking project.
This is not the first time that double tracking line passing between Margao and Vasco via Cansaulim has come under strong opposition.
