PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today said that the State revenue will get a boost with additional Rs 523 crore as State's share under central taxes.
Addressing a press conference, Sawant hailed the Union Budget announcing that State will receive Rs 1.50 lakh crore for capital investment.
Sawant said that Goa’s share of central tax devolution for 2025-26 will rise to Rs. 5,490.62 crore, an increase of Rs. 523 crore from the previous year.
Additionally, the state’s request for continued special assistance for capital investment has been approved, with Rs. 1.50 lakh crore allocated for the year. Goa has already utilised Rs. 1,185.17 crore of this scheme until January this year, he said.
The budget also includes Rs. 482 crore for infrastructure projects related to the Konkan Railway and South Western Railway, which will improve station development, new lines, and track doubling.
He said that the move will help Goa to have Vande Bharat express like trains running on the double track route from Canacona to Pernem in next two to three years.
“For farmers, the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loan limit has been raised to Rs. 5 lakh, benefiting more than 17,500 farmers in Goa. Micro and Small Enterprises will also see a rise in credit limits, now ranging from Rs. 5 crore to Rs. 10 crore” he added.
Sawant said that State will have two Day Care Cancer Centres, one each in North and South, as proposed in the Budget.
The PM Svanidhi scheme will also be revamped, benefiting over 3,000 street vendors in the state.
The tourism sector in Goa will get a boost with an allocation to upgrade the top 50 tourism destinations, alongside an increase in MUDRA loans for home-stays. The government’s focus on promoting “Heal in India” medical tourism is expected to further benefit Goa, with easier visa norms for foreign tourists, he added.
“For the logistics sector, Goa will receive support for air cargo and its two operational airports. Additionally, the reduction in customs duties for electric vehicles, shipbuilding, and fish processing industries will provide multiple advantages to the state. An Export Promotion Mission will also help improve Goa's export potential by facilitating easier access to export credit," Sawant said
Meanwhile, Sawant said that the foundation stone for IIT Goa’s permanent campus will also be laid this year, with the land for the project being finalized shortly.
