Gadkari Pushes for Goa's Transport Overhaul with Rs 30,000 Crore Masterplan

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has urged the Goa government to create a masterplan to enhance transport facilities, with project investments of up to Rs 30,000 crore over the next five years. This plan aims to modernize Goa's infrastructure, including innovative transport solutions like drone taxis and water taxis.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has called upon the Goa government to devise a comprehensive masterplan to revamp the state's transport infrastructure. Speaking at an event where he inaugurated a six-lane elevated stretch from Mopa Airport to Dhargal, Gadkari emphasized the need for substantial improvements, with projects worth Rs 25,000-30,000 crore set to be sanctioned over the next five years. He highlighted innovative transport solutions, such as drone taxis, which the US is set to license, and water taxis, an idea he previously proposed for Goa.

Gadkari noted that Goa could benefit immensely from these advancements, particularly in reducing vehicular pollution and enhancing tourist experiences. He proposed that hotels on the seashore could construct individual jetties to receive tourists, brought by water taxis from ropeway stations. He stressed that creating a masterplan is crucial for the state's public transport improvement.

The Union Minister also revealed that Rs 22,000 crore worth of projects is slated for completion this year, with additional projects extending to the Rs 25,000-30,000 crore range in the next five years. He mentioned a significant bypass that will run through Margao to the Karnataka border, worth Rs 3,500 crore, will also be sanctioned. The event saw the presence of Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Union Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik.