Daijiworld Media Network – Margao

Margao, Sep 4: Barely three days after the Railways Ministry announced on X the commissioning of the 312-km-long Hospet–Vasco track-doubling project, the post has mysteriously disappeared from its official handle, even as a similar update continues to remain on Facebook.

The now-deleted post had highlighted that the doubling project would “speed up coal, iron ore and steel transportation in the region” while also “boosting tourism to Goa and Hampi.” However, the reference to coal movement triggered sharp political reactions across Goa.

Opposition parties lashed out at the government, alleging that the Centre and the state were misleading people about the project’s intent. State Congress president Amit Patkar said, “This exposes the sheer hypocrisy of the BJP government which kept denying that the project was linked to coal transportation. The people of Goa were fooled with false claims.”

Following the uproar, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant clarified that the project’s primary aim was to enhance tourism connectivity and improve freight efficiency, while maintaining that coal handling volumes would not increase.

Despite the clarification, the removal of the controversial post from X has raised eyebrows in political and social circles, with critics questioning the government’s transparency on infrastructure projects affecting Goa’s fragile environment.