Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The Congress slammed the Union Budget 2026–27, alleging that the BJP-led Central Government has once again ignored Goa and its unique developmental challenges.
Reacting to the Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Congress leader Chodankar said that despite an 85-minute Budget speech in which 13 states and Union Territories were mentioned by name, Goa found no place at all. He said this was despite Goa being India’s premier tourism destination and a major contributor to the country’s foreign exchange earnings and cultural identity.
Chodankar pointed out that tourism, which is the backbone of Goa’s economy, has received no special support in the Budget. He said there is no revival package, no relief for small hotel owners, shack operators, taxi drivers or tourism-linked workers who continue to face unstable incomes and rising costs. He added that new tourism initiatives such as eco-tourism trails, bird-watching circuits and mountain trails were announced for other states, while Goa was ignored. He also criticised the reduction of TCS on overseas tour packages, stating that it would make foreign travel cheaper than visiting Goa.
Highlighting the plight of mining-dependent families, Chodankar said thousands of Goans continue to suffer due to prolonged disruptions in mining. He noted that while Rare Earth Corridors were announced for states like Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, Goa was excluded. He further said that demands for fiscal incentives for beneficiation of low-grade iron ore were ignored, with no roadmap for sustainable mining, alternative employment or compensation.
The Congress leader also criticised the absence of any proposal for high-speed rail connectivity to Goa. He said seven high-speed rail corridors were announced across the country, but none connect to Goa. He added that despite Chief Minister Pramod Sawant raising the issue of Konkan Railway redevelopment during pre-budget consultations, the Budget remained silent on the matter.
Chodankar said the fishing community and coastal residents have also been neglected. He pointed out that while funds were allocated nationally for fisheries and turtle trail development was announced for other coastal states, Goa’s coastline was overlooked despite facing issues like rising fuel prices, declining fish catch and coastal erosion.
He further alleged that the Budget offers no support for addressing Goa’s infrastructure bottlenecks such as traffic congestion, public transport gaps and urban stress caused by heavy tourist inflow. He said no allocation was made for the newly created Kushavati district and environmental protection for the ecologically sensitive state has been reduced to token statements without dedicated funding.
Terming it disappointing that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has praised the Budget, Chodankar questioned who would speak for Goa if the state continues to be ignored despite the BJP being in power at both the Centre and the state.
The Congress party strongly condemned what it described as continued neglect of Goa, asserting that the state deserves fair support, dedicated funding and a development model that protects its people, ecology and identity. The party said it will raise Goa’s demands at all appropriate forums, including Parliament and public platforms.
