Digital Goa, Sept 1 – CM Pramod Sawant today asserted that Goa’s coal handling capacity will not be increased and will continue to remain the same. His clarification came after the Ministry of Railways, while announcing completion of 312 km of the Hospet–Hubballi–Londa–Tinaighat–Vasco-da-Gama doubling project, stated the line would speed up coal, iron ore and steel transportation and boost tourism in Goa and Hampi. The statement triggered strong reactions from the opposition, which pointed out that their long-standing allegation—that double tracking was meant to facilitate coal transportation—now stands vindicated. Countering this, CM Sawant said the Ministry’s statement also mentions tourism and trade, and questioned as to why the opposition was only singling out coal.
