Team Goemkarponn
PORVORIM/SALIGAO: The fourth day of the Congress-led Goy Rakhonn Yatra passed through the Porvorim and Saligao Assembly constituencies on September 25, with party leaders raising issues related to road safety, traffic congestion, the Porvorim flyover and development in Saligao.
The day’s march was also dedicated to people who have lost their lives in road accidents in Goa. The organisers said thousands of locals, Congress workers and supporters participated in the yatra.
Addressing the gathering, AICC Goa Desk In-charge Manikrao Thakare criticised the state government over road safety and questioned whether the newly opened Porvorim elevated corridor had delivered the relief expected by commuters.
Thakare also alleged irregularities in the execution of the flyover project and called for accountability regarding the expenditure and outcome of the project. The 5.15-km, six-lane Porvorim elevated corridor was inaugurated on September 9 at a reported cost of about ₹641 crore.
GPCC President Girish Chodankar targeted Saligao MLA Kedar Naik over his defection from Congress to the BJP. Chodankar questioned the development achieved in Saligao and alleged that the constituency had not received meaningful development for ordinary residents.
Chodankar also responded to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s remarks about participation in the yatra, alleging that the response to the campaign had prompted criticism from the government.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao also questioned development in Saligao and raised concerns over activity on the constituency’s hills. He said voters would decide the political fate of elected representatives who changed parties after winning on another party’s mandate.
Alemao further criticised the Porvorim flyover and questioned whether the ₹641-crore expenditure had delivered the promised relief to commuters. His comments came amid continuing public debate over the elevated corridor following a fatal road accident shortly after it opened to traffic.
Alemao said road safety would be a priority for Congress if the party formed the government in Goa, and spoke of implementing comprehensive measures aimed at reducing road-accident deaths.
The yatra’s official schedule lists Porvorim and Saligao as its September 25 stops, as part of the wider campaign planned to cover 40 constituencies across Goa.
Several Congress leaders participated in the day’s programme, including Goa Desk Co-in-charge Dr Anjali Nimbalkar, MLAs Altone D’Costa and Carlos Alvares Ferreira, former Chief Minister and GPCC Working President Sunil Kawthankar, former MP Francisco Sardinha, Vikas Prabhudesai, GPCC Vice-President Tulio D’Souza, Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress President Dr Pratiksha Khalap, Youth Congress President Archit Naik, District President Shashank Narvekar, former District President Virendra Shirodkar, Saligao Block President Atul Naik and Porvorim Block President Anil Pednekar.
Goa Vikas Party President Sarvesh Bandodkar also attended the yatra and extended support to the initiative.
The Goy Rakhonn Yatra, which began on September 22, is scheduled to continue across Goa through October 18, with the organisers saying it will focus on issues including land, identity, heritage, corruption, unemployment, crime and social harmony.
