Goa, May 26 -- The Assagao Gram Sabha held on Sunday saw intense discussions as concerned villagers raised objections to ongoing road widening projects. Residents argued that the widening of roads was being done at the cost of the village's unique character and primarily to benefit large-scale developers and the growing influx of vehicles.

Several attendees expressed fears that the move would pave the way for more mega construction projects, altering the village's heritage and landscape irreversibly. "Wider roads won't solve traffic issues," said one resident. "The root problem is not the road width but the lack of driving discipline."

The gram sabha echoed a common sentiment among locals that development should be aligned with the vill...