CALANGUTE: The recently-repaired roads of Calangute have been dug up again by JICA contractors, greatly inconveniencing the locals and tourists.
The locals and tourists were provided a little reprieve by the Public Works Department (PWD), which carried out repairs on the dilapidated roads from St Anthony’s Chapel to Calangute market and Calangute Church. They were very happy with the PWD’s repair work, but now they are disgusted to find their roads dug up again by the JICA team.
Questions were raised as to why JICA cannot coordinate their work with the PWD and stop wasting public money on repairs, etc.
The Dussehra holiday weekend also compounded the misery of the Calangute locals as hundreds of tourist vehicles invaded their village. Negotiating the dug roads became difficult for the locals as well as the tourists, and they were caught up in traffic jams due to the digging work. They will get relief only when the works on the major roads leading to Calangute and Baga are completed and the roads are hot-mixed.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has assured to complete hot-mixing the roads to St Alex Church and Calangute market by mid-November. He also felt that there should be better coordination with the departments carrying out road works, which later pose a threat to life and property.
“I will see that the major roads leading to Calangute market and Calangute Church from St Anthony’s Chapel are hot mixed by mid-November. There should be perfect coordination between the departments while carrying out digging works as the pot holes pose a threat to life and property. The officials responsible for cutting or damaging the road should see to it that the road is repaired once the work is done. Collective and responsible working is required to keep our roads free from potholes” said Lobo.
