Abdul Wahab Khan
Panaji
Goa’s rapidly increasing vehicle population is emerging as one of the state’s serious environmental threats, with the State of the Environment Report 2025 warning that the transport sector has become a dominant source of greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and energy consumption.
The report cautions that unless urgent corrective measures are taken, rising traffic and fossil fuel dependence could severely undermine Goa’s climate resilience, public health and environmental stability.
According to the report, Goa has one of the highest rates of vehicle ownership in the country, with around 650 vehicles per 1,000 people, nearly three times the national average and approaching the level of one vehicle for every resident.
This unusually high density reflects a weak public transport system, tourism-driven mobility needs and a growing preference for private vehicles. As a result, road traffic has expanded rapidly across urban, coastal and rural areas, states the report.
According to the report, the annual addition of over 80,000 vehicles in recent years has directly intensified demand for fuel, road space and infrastructure, while escalating air and noise pollution burdens.
The report estimates that carbon dioxide emissions from transport will rise from 1,935 kilotonnes in 2020 to about 4,980 kilotonnes by 2050, an increase of over 150%. This surge is attributed to rising vehicle density, congestion and the slow pace of clean technology adoption.
The environmental and social impacts are already evident, with rising respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, increasing healthcare costs and growing noise-related disturbances. The report also points to a sharp rise in air and noise pollution violations.
Although electric vehicle registrations are gradually increasing, with over 30,000 EVs added in the last five years, they still form only a small fraction of the total vehicle population of more than 14.08 lakh.
The report stresses the need for faster expansion of charging infrastructure and stronger financial incentives.
The study projects that if the current trend continues, the transport sector’s share in Goa’s total energy consumption could rise to around 42% by 2050, making it the dominant energy-consuming sector in the state. This growth is being driven by the continuous increase in two-wheelers, cars, taxis, tourist vehicles and commercial transport, most of which continues to rely on petrol and diesel, states the report.
The report notes that a successful transition to low-carbon technologies and zero-emission fuels could reduce this share to around 37.6% by 2050, lowering overall energy demand by about 4.5%. This shift, combined with renewable energy integration, is identified as a crucial pathway to containing future emissions.
