“The government’s priorities appear misplaced. Instead of addressing routine governance issues, the administration seems fixated on showpiece projects meant to impress rather than improve. It is easier to announce an international event than to ensure that the Margao–Panjim highway is free of crater-sized potholes. Kamat, with his decades of political experience, should know that public satisfaction comes not from spectacle but from service.”
Goa’s announcement that Mormugao will host a Formula 4 race might sound thrilling on paper — fast cars, global attention, and the glamour of international motorsport. But for the average Goan negotiating potholes, waterlogged streets, and crumbling highways, the news borders on irony. Before dreaming of Formula 4, perhaps the government should first ensure that citizens can drive safely at 40 kmph on local roads.
Minister Digambar Kamat has proudly confirmed the event, describing it as a moment of pride for Goa. Certainly, events like these can bring publicity, tourism, and investment. Yet they also expose the stark disconnect between headline-grabbing announcements and ground reality. For weeks, residents across Goa have complained of broken roads, uneven pavements, and incomplete works that have turned daily commutes into obstacle courses.
In Mormugao itself, the irony is glaring. The constituency’s infrastructure struggles with basic maintenance. Streetlights fail, drains overflow, and potholes multiply faster than they are filled. Against this backdrop, the idea of hosting a high-speed race is not visionary — it is tone-deaf.
The government’s priorities appear misplaced. Instead of addressing routine governance issues, the administration seems fixated on showpiece projects meant to impress rather than improve. It is easier to announce an international event than to ensure that the Margao–Panjim highway is free of crater-sized potholes. Kamat, with his decades of political experience, should know that public satisfaction comes not from spectacle but from service.
What message does this send to the people? That glamour matter more than governance? That image trumps infrastructure? The ordinary Goan is unlikely to feel pride watching race cars zoom past while his scooter struggles through slush-filled lanes.
This is not to dismiss the potential value of hosting a Formula 4 event. Done right, it can bring visibility and opportunity. But timing and context matter. Goa’s road network is in disrepair after every monsoon. Contractors escape accountability, and repair work is perennially “in progress.” To spend public resources preparing for a race when basic transport infrastructure lies in neglect is an insult to citizens’ patience and taxes.
The Kamat administration would do well to remember that development is not a photo opportunity. It is a process built on consistency, maintenance, and public trust. Before positioning Goa as a racing destination, fix the fundamentals — roads, drainage, lighting, traffic management, and urban planning. Let Goans first experience smooth, safe roads in their daily lives before international drivers do.
There is also the matter of priorities in public spending. Hosting an international racing event involves large logistical costs — road preparation, crowd control, safety barriers, and promotional budgets. Where is this money coming from, and what will it displace? Citizens have every right to ask whether that investment could instead be channelled into lasting infrastructure that benefits everyone, not just a weekend of spectacle.
Kamat often speaks of Goa’s “modern vision.” A modern state, however, is not one that chases glamour but one that delivers good governance. True progress means that a taxi driver in Vasco can reach the airport without risking his suspension, or that ambulances can move smoothly without weaving through debris and half-finished work zones.
Goans do not oppose progress. They oppose misplaced priorities. There is pride in seeing Goa host international events, but greater pride in seeing a government that fixes what is broken before building what is new.
Mr. Kamat, by all means, bring the Formula 4 race to Mormugao. But first, ensure that the people of Goa have roads worthy of everyday travel, not just race-day spectacle. The race against potholes must be won before any race cars line up at the starting grid.
