Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: More than 500 condemned vehicles belonging to government departments, State-owned corporations and autonomous bodies have been scrapped across Goa in the last seven months, easing congestion in public spaces and generating significant revenue for the State.
As per official data, the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) conducted four specially organised ‘scrap melas’, through which 518 obsolete vehicles — including two-wheelers and four-wheelers — were disposed of, fetching Rs 2.77 crore for the government.
Many of the vehicles had remained unused for years, with some lying abandoned for over 15 years outside government offices or along public roads, adding to traffic snarls and visual clutter.
Officials said that earlier, the disposal of condemned vehicles was carried out through a tender-based system that was often delayed by procedural hurdles. The scrap mela model was introduced to speed up the process and ensure a more efficient and transparent mechanism.
A senior Finance Department official said the initiative was aimed at fast-tracking the clearance of scrap vehicles while safeguarding transparency and maximising returns to the exchequer.
The vehicles cleared under the initiative belonged to multiple government departments and State-run bodies. Authorities said the scrap fairs would now be held at regular intervals to prevent the accumulation of condemned vehicles in the future.
Residents and commuters have welcomed the move, noting that the removal of rusting and abandoned vehicles has reduced congestion in several areas and improved the overall appearance of public spaces.
