“During his press conference, Khaunte outlined a series of measures: converting some parking stretches into motorable lanes, identifying alternate routes, enforcing dust control, and accelerating hot-mixing work. These may sound technical, but on the ground, they mean the difference between chaos and relief for daily commuters. More importantly, the decision to carry out work during night hours — between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. — indicates a long-missing sensitivity to public convenience.
For too long, infrastructure projects in Goa have operated with a “public inconvenience is inevitable” attitude. Whether it was road digging in the middle of tourist season or simultaneous closures on parallel routes, planning rarely factored in the lived experience of ordinary Goans.”
Traffic in Goa has long been a metaphor for the state’s uneven growth — slow, frustrating, and often directionless. The congestion between Mapusa and Panaji, particularly through Porvorim, has become a daily ordeal for thousands of commuters. Against this backdrop, Minister Rohan Khaunte’s recent review of the Six-Lane Elevated Corridor works and his insistence on minimizing public inconvenience are steps that were not only necessary but long overdue.
For years, Porvorim has been a case study in urban mismanagement. What was once a leafy residential belt has morphed into a chaotic stretch where rapid development outpaced planning. Shopping complexes, cafes, and residential projects mushroomed along the highway with little thought for parking, drainage, or pedestrian movement. The result is a perpetual bottleneck that neither residents nor tourists can escape.
That the government finally recognizes the urgency of addressing this mess is a relief. But this recognition did not come in isolation. The outcry from residents, constant traffic snarls, and the tourism industry’s growing concerns have all forced the state to act. In this sense, Minister Khaunte’s intervention represents more a response to public pressure than proactive governance — yet it remains a crucial step forward.
During his press conference, Khaunte outlined a series of measures: converting some parking stretches into motorable lanes, identifying alternate routes, enforcing dust control, and accelerating hot-mixing work. These may sound technical, but on the ground, they mean the difference between chaos and relief for daily commuters. More importantly, the decision to carry out work during night hours — between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. — indicates a long-missing sensitivity to public convenience.
For too long, infrastructure projects in Goa have operated with a “public inconvenience is inevitable” attitude. Whether it was road digging in the middle of tourist season or simultaneous closures on parallel routes, planning rarely factored in the lived experience of ordinary Goans. Khaunte’s directive that there should be no full road closures during the ongoing tourist season breaks from that mindset. It signals a shift from bureaucratic convenience to citizen-centered planning — a shift that should become the new standard.
However, this intervention also raises uncomfortable questions about why such foresight was lacking in the first place. Why did it take a ministerial inspection to coordinate departments and enforce basic traffic management measures? The Public Works Department and traffic authorities should have anticipated these disruptions from the outset. The fact that this “review” was needed at all reflects a systemic lack of coordination that continues to plague Goa’s infrastructure projects.
Another aspect worth noting is Khaunte’s emphasis on communication and coordination. By directing the North Goa Collector to share key findings with the Chief Minister and PWD Minister, he is attempting to ensure accountability — something rare in Goa’s public works culture. But such accountability must extend beyond meetings and press conferences. The public deserves transparent updates on timelines, road closures, and completed milestones, rather than vague assurances.
The six-lane corridor is not just another road project. It represents a crucial artery connecting North Goa’s commercial and administrative hubs. With tourism on the rise, Goa’s infrastructure can no longer function on patchwork fixes. The need for integrated mobility — encompassing highways, service roads, and pedestrian safety — is immediate.
In this light, Khaunte’s insistence that “Goenkars shouldn’t face any difficulty” resonates. Development should not come at the cost of daily hardship. Yet, ensuring that principle requires more than intent — it requires discipline in execution. Dust control, night work schedules, and alternate routes are only as effective as their enforcement. Without constant on-ground monitoring, these directives risk fading into paperwork.
Ultimately, the Porvorim corridor review serves as a reminder that infrastructure is as much about governance as it is about concrete and asphalt. Goa’s future growth depends on how efficiently it can balance construction with convenience. Khaunte’s steps — practical, visible, and overdue — are a move in the right direction. But to truly restore public confidence, the government must follow through, not just review.
If these measures are implemented with consistency, Goa might finally see what it has long needed — development that moves, quite literally, without getting stuck in traffic.
