“A thorough and independent investigation is non-negotiable. Internal departmental probes will not suffice, nor will committees formed under political influence. What Goa needs is a professional, external inquiry that includes forensic document experts, auditors and engineers. Every certificate, every tender submission, every project approval must be rechecked against authentic records. The investigation must follow the trail wherever it leads. If lapses occurred at multiple levels of the PWD, each level must be held accountable.
This is also the moment for the government to demonstrate true transparency. All contracts under scrutiny should be placed in the public domain.”
The allegations surrounding Bagkiya Constructions and its dealings with Goa’s Public Works Department have opened a troubling chapter in the state’s governance narrative. Claims that forged completion certificates and manipulated records may have been used to secure government contracts are more than a contractor dispute. They strike at the heart of public accountability. If these accusations hold up under investigation, they reveal a system vulnerable to exploitation and even complicit in it.
This is not merely about one company or one contract. It is about the credibility of an entire department that handles infrastructure essential to every Goan’s daily life. Roads, bridges, drainage systems and public buildings rely on a chain of approvals that must be airtight. When forged documents allegedly slip through that chain, the public has every right to ask how it happened. Was it negligence? Was it deliberate? And who benefited?
The state cannot afford to gloss over these questions. Goa has seen enough controversies in its public works sector over the years, each one chipping away at public confidence. But this case stands out because it suggests a more sophisticated operation. Forged certificates do not simply appear out of thin air. They require planning, coordination and an assumption that they will not be scrutinised. That assumption should frighten every citizen.
A thorough and independent investigation is non-negotiable. Internal departmental probes will not suffice, nor will committees formed under political influence. What Goa needs is a professional, external inquiry that includes forensic document experts, auditors and engineers. Every certificate, every tender submission, every project approval must be rechecked against authentic records. The investigation must follow the trail wherever it leads. If lapses occurred at multiple levels of the PWD, each level must be held accountable.
This is also the moment for the government to demonstrate true transparency. All contracts under scrutiny should be placed in the public domain. The people of Goa deserve to know how their tax money is used and whether they received the infrastructure they paid for. The days of opaque tendering and cosy contractor relationships must end. A state that prides itself on tourism and development cannot function with a public works system clouded by suspicion.
But accountability cannot stop with the contractor or even the officials involved. The systemic weaknesses must be identified and corrected. Goa’s procurement process still relies heavily on paperwork that can be manipulated. A modern public works ecosystem demands strong digital safeguards. Certificates must be verified against online databases maintained by issuing authorities. Tender submissions should be timestamped, encrypted and accessible only through secure platforms. Mandatory third-party audits at key project milestones can act as early warning systems.
The technical side of the problem is only one half of the story. The other half is ethical. Infrastructure is not an abstract idea. It shapes the daily lives of citizens. A poorly built road can cause accidents. A compromised bridge can take lives. Substandard construction work may not be immediately visible, but its consequences eventually emerge. When corruption infiltrates infrastructure, the cost is paid by everyone.
This alleged scandal must therefore be seen not just as a failure of administration but as a breach of public trust. People expect the government to protect public funds and uphold standards. The moment that trust breaks, governance itself weakens. Restoring it will require more than statements. It will require prosecutions if guilt is established, reforms even if the system is only partly flawed, and a firm political commitment to end contractor-politician nexuses that have long haunted Goa.
Goa is at a crossroads. The revelations demand a decisive response. Either the state reforms its public works system and emerges stronger, or it allows this controversy to fade like so many others, leaving citizens to pay the price again. Goa deserves better. It deserves honesty in its governance and reliability in its infrastructure. The path forward begins with the truth, and only a fearless investigation can reveal it.
