Digital Goa, September 2 – Following a surge in public outcry over the Hospet–Vasco railway double tracking project—believed to facilitate increased coal transportation—the Goa government has issued a formal clarification. The government stated that no capacity expansion of coal transportation will be permitted in the state in connection with the project. The controversy was reignited by a recent tweet from Indian Railways, which highlighted several advantages of double tracking, including the acceleration of coal transport followed by a notification from Union Railways Ministry for acquiring of 6,007 sq mtr of additional land for double tracking in the villages of Sancoale, Issorcim and Cansaulim in Mormugao Taluka. This sparked outrage among opposition parties and environmental activists, who have long opposed any increase in coal movement through Goa. In response, the Goa government issued a press note clarifying that the additional land acquired is solely for safety purposes, and not for expanding coal transportation capacity.
