NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Stating that the forthcoming assembly election in Goa will not decide the future of either the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Congress, but Goans themselves, and therefore, the voters in the state should be very cautious while casting their vote, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday assured that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will inaugurate the twin multi-crore projects namely the new Zuari bridge and the Mumbai-Goa four-lane cement concrete road before the end of 2018.
“I am known for fulfilling the assurances that I give,” he added, appealing to Goans to give majority seats to BJP in the state assembly, and get the works done, which have not been carried out in the state for the last 50 years.
Gadkari, delivering an assurances-filled speech before the city crowd, during a public meeting of the BJP’s Panaji candidate Sidharth Kunkalienkar, said that his ministry has sanctioned works for Goa to the tune of Rs 18,000 crore since the Narendra Modi government came to power at the Centre. “In fact, if you observe the works undertaken in Goa by the central as well as the state governments during the past two-and-a-half years, I think there is just no need for the BJP to carry out election campaign in the state,” he said.
The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways further stated that the cruise tourism to be introduced in Goa soon, as well as the proposed Mopa International Airport, which will allow 250 aircraft to land on daily basis as compared to 89 at the Dabolim airport, would both increase the state tourism five times. He also spoke about the expansion of Patradevi-Mangalore highway and schemes for the local fishermen.
Parrikar, speaking on the occasion acknowledged that without the support of the Panaji people during consecutive five assembly elections, he would have never made it to the post of the Defence Minister. Further admitting that wherever he is, his heart always beats for Panaji, Parrikar said that Panaji, today has come a long way from the time during mid-1990s when its directionless youth were frustrated, which, in turn, resulted in increase in the city crime rate. “Fortunately, I was able to control it as well as stop organised crime in the capital city,” he noted.
The Defence Minister, without naming Atanasio Monserrate, another candidate contesting election in the Panaji constituency, said that the voters of Panaji should refrain from electing a person with criminal record, thus preventing tarnishing of the image of the capital city.
Kunkalienkar, in his speech spoke about establishing a cultural centre based on the theme ‘Waste to Best’ at Patto, as also provide more toilets in the capital city.
