Yuri Alemao, Leader of Opposition, has called on the BJP Government to redirect funds allocated for the upcoming Zuari Bridge inaugural towards the much-needed repairs of the Margao Bus Stand. Alemao criticized the government’s previous expenditure of 2 crores on the first phase of the Zuari Bridge inaugural, labeling it as a misuse of taxpayer money.
Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri. Nitin Gadkari, is set to inaugurate the second phase of the new Zuari Bridge on December 22, 2023. Alemao emphasized the urgency of addressing essential repairs at Margao Bus Stand, a gateway for South Goa, rather than incurring additional expenditure on the bridge’s inaugural event.
During the last Assembly Session, Alemao revealed that 2 crores were spent on the inaugural function of the first phase of the Zuari Bridge. He criticized the BJP Government’s lack of fiscal responsibility, especially as the total liability on the state has reached 35000 crores.
Highlighting the neglect of South Goa and Salcete Taluka, Alemao stressed the significance of the Margao Bus Stand, contributing to the government’s revenue with a profit of 1.93 crores in the last four years. He expressed disappointment in the government’s failure to maintain the bus stand and called for immediate attention to repair and upkeep.
Alemao recalled the Congress Government’s initiative in 2011 to lay the foundation stone for an “Ultra-Modern Transport Hub” at Margao, which included a retail mall, hotel block, corporate block, parking facilities, and a modern bus stand. However, he claimed that the BJP Government had shelved the project without providing specific reasons.
Describing the current state of the Margao Bus Stand as chaotic, with inadequate facilities such as toilets, washrooms, and seating arrangements, Alemao urged Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant to allocate the 2 crores meant for the Zuari Bridge inaugural towards providing basic amenities at the bus stand. Expressing skepticism about the government’s commitment to the proposed “Ultra-Modern Transport Hub,” Alemao appealed for immediate action to address the pressing issues at Margao Bus Stand.