As the Narendra Modi-led government marks one year of its third term, Goa has undoubtedly witnessed a new wave of developmental activity. Strategic infrastructure projects, renewed emphasis on connectivity, tourism revival, and digital innovation have reshaped the narrative of progress in the state.
The Centre and the BJP-led state government have worked in tandem to fast-track several long-pending projects.
Yet, beneath the surface of visible progress, critical and long-standing issues remain unresolved – issues that strike at the heart of Goa’s identity, ecology, and sustainable future. For Modi 3.0 to leave a lasting legacy in Goa, it must address these deep-rooted challenges with the same urgency it applies to highways and bridges.
Visible Development: Modi 3.0’s Fast Lane
Among the most significant gains this past year are infrastructure projects that had long been stuck in red tape or delays.
The Porvorim Flyover, a critical artery to ease traffic congestion in the fast-growing suburban hub, is finally taking shape.
In South Goa, the Western bypass, the Zuarinagar flyover – another key intervention – is under active construction, offering hope for smoother connectivity from Vasco to Margao.
The viewing observatory atop the new Zuari bridge is poised to become both a tourist attraction and a symbol of engineering excellence. At the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA), the construction of a state-of-the-art coal handling dome has begun – an essential environmental mitigation step in response to long-standing public health and pollution concerns in Vasco and surrounding areas.
These works reflect a clear intention by the Modi government to leave a visible stamp of development on Goa’s urban and logistics infrastructure. And they do matter—better roads, safer ports, and modern amenities are essential for economic progress.
Goa’s Faultlines: Water, Identity, and Ecology
However, parallel to the construction boom is a growing sense of unease among Goans, who see development outpacing sustainability and fairness.
Chief among the unresolved issues is the Mhadei water diversion crisis. The Centre’s nod to Karnataka’s Kalsa-Bhandura project has outraged Goans across the political spectrum. The Mhadei river is not just a water source – it’s Goa’s ecological lifeline. The central government’s silence on Goa’s objections, despite protests, petitions, and appeals, is widely seen as a political compromise rather than a policy decision.
Goa’s demand for Special Status under Article 371, aimed at protecting its fragile environment, land ownership patterns, and cultural identity, also remains shelved.
Despite repeated Assembly resolutions and civil society campaigns, Modi 3.0 has chosen not to act. This has left many Goans feeling unprotected in the face of rapid commercialization and land acquisition by outsiders.
Environment vs Development
The flip side of infrastructure progress is environmental degradation. Projects like the railway double-tracking through Mollem and highway expansions have led to deforestation and habitat destruction in key biodiversity zones. The “alleged” coal corridor and logistics projects in South Goa have further alarmed environmentalists and local residents.
While the Centre emphasizes “Green Growth,” Goa has often seen a bypassing of environmental safeguards, reduced public consultation, and a top-down approach in planning. If left unchecked, such development risks undermining the very essence of Goa—its greenery, beaches, and tranquility.
Uncontrolled Migration: The Silent Pressure
Another underreported but growing concern is uncontrolled migration into Goa. While migration brings cultural exchange and labour support, the absence of a robust regulatory framework has led to stress on urban infrastructure, rising slum clusters, and shifting demographic patterns. Locals fear displacement, dilution of cultural identity, and increased crime in some pockets.
The state urgently needs a comprehensive migration and housing policy that ensures integration, legality, and infrastructure planning in tandem. The Centre must support Goa with funding and frameworks for data-driven urban planning that anticipates these demographic shifts.
A Call for Corrective Balance
In one year, Modi 3.0 has delivered pace, visibility, and capital infusion to Goa’s infrastructure and tourism sectors. But the state’s deeper wounds—river water sharing disputes, environmental concerns, unemployment in the mining belt, and demographic pressure—require not just money, but political will and sensitivity.
For Goa to truly benefit from Modi’s development vision, the Centre must go beyond bridges and flyovers. It must listen to the calls from Mhadei’s banks, from Mollem’s forests, and from the Goan villages losing their character and space.
Development must not come at the cost of identity. Growth must not crush sustainability.
As Modi 3.0 moves into its second year, it’s time not just to build, but to preserve. Goa deserves no less.
