Amit Shah to start three‑day Goa visit, will chair Western Zonal Council meeting

Amit Shah, Union Home Minister, landed in Goa on Thursday to begin a three‑day official visit. The itinerary includes meetings with the state’s chief minister and senior officials, followed by his role as chairperson of the Western Zonal Council meeting scheduled for Friday. The council, comprising the chief ministers of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and the Union Territory of Daman and Diu, will discuss regional issues such as infrastructure development, water sharing and disaster management. Shah is expected to emphasize the central government’s focus on cooperative federalism and accelerate pending projects in the western region. The visit will conclude on Saturday after a brief public interaction in Panaji.

The Western Zonal Council, one of six zonal councils set up under the States Reorganisation Act, serves as a platform for inter‑state dialogue. This year’s agenda is likely to address the ongoing coastal erosion concerns and the implementation of the National River Linking Project in the west. Shah’s presence is seen as a signal of the Centre’s commitment to resolve long‑standing disputes and promote economic growth.

Security arrangements have been tightened across the state, with police deploying additional personnel at key locations. The minister’s schedule also includes a short address to local entrepreneurs, highlighting upcoming central schemes aimed at boosting tourism and small‑scale industries in Goa.