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During a Zero Hour discussion in the Rajya Sabha, BJP members highlighted issues affecting key pilgrimage and transport corridors. Tejveer Singh raised concerns about persistent pollution in the Yamuna at Mathura and Vrindavan, urging upgrades to sewage treatment, stronger monitoring and safer riverbank infrastructure. He also proposed a metro link between major pilgrimage towns to ease festival traffic and improve connectivity. From Goa, Sadanand Shet Tanavde pointed to recurring landslides and blockages on the Goa–Belgaum Highway at Anmod and Chorla Ghats, stressing the impact on daily travel and food supply. He called for faster repairs, strengthened stretches and better warning systems.
During a Zero Hour discussion in the Rajya Sabha this past week, two BJP members raised concerns about issues affecting major religious and transport corridors. Advertisement
Tejveer Singh from Uttar Pradesh acknowledged that infrastructure in Mathura and Vrindavan has improved in recent years, but he said pollution in the Yamuna continues to affect pilgrims and residents. He urged the government to increase the capacity of sewage treatment plants, strengthen monitoring of pollution sources, and introduce better safety arrangements along the riverbanks. These concerns have been raised by local groups and environmental bodies over the past few years as well, due to recurring contamination in the Yamuna’s upper stretches.
Singh also proposed a metro rail link connecting Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, and Govardhan to manage traffic during major festivals, when visitor numbers rise sharply. He stated that such a network would improve travel conditions, ease overall congestion in the Vrindavan area, support environmental goals, and raise the profile of the pilgrimage circuit. Suggestions for smart traffic systems, e-shuttle buses, multi-level parking, and a dedicated support package for local youth involved in tourism were also put forward.
Sadanand Shet Tanavde from Goa drew attention to the condition of the Goa–Belgaum National Highway, focusing on the Anmod and Chorla Ghat sections. He noted that these routes are crucial for daily movement between Goa and Karnataka but remain narrow, vulnerable to landslides, and often blocked during monsoon periods. He referred to a recent incident where parts of Anmod Ghat collapsed due to heavy rainfall, cutting off connectivity for long hours and at times extending into multiple days.
Tanavde added that nearly 80 per cent of fruits and vegetables supplied to Goa are transported through these highways, and any disruption affects trade and thousands of households. He requested urgent steps to speed up repair work, strengthen the vulnerable Ghat stretches, and set up reliable monitoring, warning, and rescue systems to prevent long blockages.
Source PTI
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