NT Reporter
Panaji
Despite repeated announcements by the Goa government since 2018 about plans to introduce a metro rail system in the state, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has stated that no proposal has been submitted by the state government.
In January 2025, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said that the metro rail proposal for Goa was in its final stage and would soon be forwarded to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Railway Ministry. Earlier, in 2018, then chief minister Manohar Parrikar had said the Union government had assured financial assistance if Goa opted for a metro rail project.
However, in a reply tabled in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu said no proposal for a metro rail project in Goa has been received from the state government.
The reply was given to a question raised by Goa Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament. Tanavade had asked whether any feasibility study, survey or proposal for mass or light urban rail systems had been conducted or was under consideration for smaller states such as Goa, and whether any such proposal was pending.
The Union Ministry stated that urban planning is a state subject and that state governments are responsible for planning, initiating and developing urban transport infrastructure, including metro projects. It added that under the Metro Rail Policy, Central financial assistance is considered based on the feasibility of proposals and availability of resources once proposals are submitted by the states.
The Ministry further said the Central government provides 100 per cent Central financial assistance for Comprehensive Mobility Plans, Detailed Project Reports, feasibility studies, transportation studies and research proposals under its scheme for transport planning and capacity building in urban transport for both metro and non-metro projects.
