Goa got Rs 3,426 crore of Central funds in one year: Parsekar

PANAJI: Over the past one year, the BJP-led Goa government secured Rs 3,426 crore from the Centre solely as investment in the infrastructure projects in the state, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said here today.

Addressing a press conference here, Parsekar, who would be soon completing one year in the office after taking over from Manohar Parrikar, said he had done better than his own expectations in the last one year.

"In the beginning many people suggested that we should approach the Centre to tide over the revenue shortfall. I was against it. If we were to seek a package, we would have to ask for Rs 500 crore and get Rs 200 crore. We have now secured much more than that," Parsekar said.

The Union Government, through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, had agreed to fund several projects in Goa such as the eight-lane bridge across the River Zuari including six-lane approach roads totalling 13.6 km, which is estimated to cost Rs 2,493.4 crore.

This apart, Centre is also funding works of bypasses and minor bridges at other locations.

The state government can get as much as Rs 500 crore more for tourism-related infrastructure development under the Centre's tourism circuit development scheme, he said, adding that these funds were yet be sanctioned.

Parsekar took over from Parrikar on November 8 last year after Parrikar became the Union Defence Minister.

The CM claimed that he had managed to silence his critics. "A lot was said about me on social media. All of that has stopped. It is my biggest achievement," he said.