‘Fix’ Porvorim corridor
New bridges, flyovers and roads in India are famous for the amount spent to construct it. Be that as it may, the Rs 641-crore Porvorim elevated corridor was conceived as a solution to one of Goa’s most persistent traffic bottlenecks. Yet barely days after being inaugurated, the corridor has become a subject of public concern. A fatal accident soon after the opening led authorities to impose restrictions, including a ban on two-wheelers and closure of certain entry and exit points. Now, waterlogging on the flyover following moderate rain has added another dimension to the concerns. Importantly, drainage problems at the Porvorim project area had already been reported during construction in 2025. The immediate priority should therefore be rectification of the same. An independent technical audit should have examined the entire corridor, particularly drainage, gradients, road surfaces, crash barriers, lighting, signage, entry and exit geometry and pedestrian safety. The drainage network must be subjected to a proper capacity test, with additional inlets, outlets, de-silting arrangements and emergency pumping facilities wherever necessary. The government should focus on fixing every identified deficiency before commuters pay the price for avoidable shortcomings.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
On sopo collection
In Colva, illegal sopo fee collection from vendors is happening in broad daylight. Collectors operating without proper identification are taking fees without issuing receipts, demanding inflated amounts, and negotiating lower rates that still exceed official charges. Vendors fear complaining, terrified of being targeted and forced out of business—a reality recently exposed in a viral video. The Colva panchayat ‘illegally’ changed the collection mode from auction to self-management in 2026 without required gram sabha approval, in violation of the Panchayat Raj Act. Multiple complaints to the BDO and Directorate of Panchayats have fallen on deaf ears. If corruption is this blatant on the outside, imagine what is hidden inside. With the Colva Fama approaching, vested interests stand to illegally profit immensely. The people of Colva must aggressively question their respective elected representatives, and government authorities must immediately conduct a thorough audit of the Colva sopo collection.
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Risks to food safety
The Maharashtra government’s suspension of major delivery platforms’ food business licences serves as a stark warning: quick-commerce convenience must never compromise public health. These companies are not merely technology platforms; their dark stores directly manage storage and delivery. Consequently, they must take full responsibility for hygiene, freshness, temperature control, and overall food quality. Incidents involving expired goods, pests, rotten food, and poor sanitation reveal dangerous system weaknesses that demand urgent correction. Regulators like the FDA must strengthen oversight through uniform inspection standards, independent audits, continuous cold-chain monitoring, and digital tracking. Consumers deserve complete transparency regarding how their food is stored before it reaches their homes. Speed is the primary attraction of quick-commerce, but rapid delivery must never override consumer safety.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Anant Nag’s feat
Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag richly deserves the Dadasaheb Phalke award. Besides Kannada films, Anant Nag’s brilliant portrayal of sensitive roles in some cult Hindi movies gave him a pan-India image. His effortless acting and flawless diction in parallel and mainstream cinema endeared him to his fans. Anant Nag is known as a ‘natural actor’ who can breathe life into any role sans melodrama. The 78-year old actor had a solid theatre background that gave him an extra edge over his peers. But it was the 1976 Kannada mega hit ‘Bayalu Dhaari’, based on the novel of Bharati Suta, that gave Anant Nag a fresh and romantic image, after which he never looked back. His brief spell in politics with the undivided Janata Dal had an abrupt end but he was back where he belonged – acting. Hailing from a village in Honnavar taluk of Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district, Anant’s journey from modest means to a celebrity is both awe-inspiring and praiseworthy.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Technology and war
Long time ago, Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and of recent vintage, the Vietcong taught the world that the mightiest of armies can be defeated by being nimble and using guerilla warfare. Iran has demonstrated the very same thing now. You don’t have to have cutting-edge technology to win a war; you should have the ways and means of using whatever technology is available to counter cutting-edge technology. Heat-seeking missiles have taken down sophisticated aircraft. A drone that is flown connected to a fiber optic cable has taken out costly tanks by evading all counter measures. Small and nimble missile boats have posed a threat to massive warships.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
