Panaji: Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from Goa, Sadanand Tanawade, on Monday said that one of the key issues he raised in Parliament during his 15-month tenure was the demand for a direct train service between Vasco
and Solapur, which he brought up during the recent budget session.
“This train service is of importance to Goans as the particular train passes through important pilgrimage centers like Pandharpur, Akkalkot and Ganagapur,” he said, maintaining that he had raised this issue in the House by way of special mention and now as a follow up to it a letter needs to be written to the Railway Ministry.
Tanawade said that he would soon visit central government institutions in Goa, including the Mormugao Port Authority, to study their operations in the state and identify any public-centric issues related to these institutions.
“I will be raising more state focused issues in the Parliament, once the second phase of the Budget session commences on March 10,” he said.
Tanawade, while briefing the press on the recently presented 2025-26 Budget, said that Goans would greatly benefit from Modi government’s decision to lift the tax burden for individuals earning up to Rs 12 lakh annually. He said that under the Uniform Civil Code in Goa, married couples jointly hold ownership of all assets owned or acquired by either spouse, making this tax relief particularly advantageous for them.
“Therefore, such couples in Goa would enjoy this income tax relaxation, up to an amount of Rs 24 lakhs, by way of sharing,” he said.
Replying to a question, Tanawade said that he is fully aware of the problems faced by businessmen as well as residents of the capital city, due to the ongoing Smart City Works. “However, people need to display a little patience, for availing better facilities, just like they faced problems during the construction of Bambolim-Verna flyover, and are now encountering difficulties due to the ongoing building of another flyover at Porvorim,” he noted.
Answering another question, the Rajya Sabha member said that the opposition to the recent announcement by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant about establishing three new stations along the Konkan Railway route, at Sarzora in Salcete, Neura and Mayem in North Goa is uncalled for.
“The opposition will vanish once the people see the benefits of these new railway stations,” he said, adding that the Chief Minister is trying to get these new railway stations as they would largely help Goans, during their rail travel from Pernem to Canacona.
