MAPUSA: Despite several assurances by the government, the condition of the roads in Bardez has turned from bad to worse.
Fed up with the bad and dangerous pothole-ridden roads, the residents have demanded that the Public Works Department (PWD) install signboards at key junctions cautioning the motorists to be careful due to the presence of potholes along the stretch. The internal roads in the coastal areas in Bardez are in bad shape especially the ones in Anjuna, Vagator, Siolim, Assagao and Calangute, making it an uncomfortable travel for locals and tourists as well.
The coastal area is frequented by tourists, who have also stressed the need to provide good and wider roads.
Motorists claimed that this careless attitude of the authorities of endangering human life is not acceptable. Practically, every day there pothole-related mishaps across the taluka, especially along the National Highway 66 stretch, which has turned into a death trap. The ongoing NH-66 widening work has become a matter of concern for commuters, especially at night. With construction work carried out in patches, random speeding of vehicles is leading to more accidents along the stretch. The stretch from the new flyover at Bastora up to the Sangolda junction has turned dangerous as there is no proper lighting along the entire stretch.
Wilfred Fernandes, who commutes along the Guirim-Bastora stretch, claimed that it becomes difficult for motorists to ride on pothole-ridden roads especially during the rains.
“People who travel along the stretch between Hotel Green Park at Guirim and the Sangolda junction need to take care. This stretch is so dangerous that it can lead to accidents as people try to avoid potholes and end up being knocked by a vehicle from behind. The government keeps setting new deadlines to fix the potholes but till date nothing is done. This government is known to give false assurances and is not bothered about the citizens,” he charged.
Kevin Silveira, a Calangute resident informed Herald that the state of the roads is getting worse each passing day.
“I reside in the coastal belt and no one seems to be bothered. The tourist season is underway and when we complain about the bad roads, the concerned authorities reply that due to the rains they cannot carry out the work. The most affected area in Calangute is near St Joseph and Little Flower School. The children as well as parents plying on this route face lots of problems as this stretch is dangerous. We request the concerned authorities to fix the bad roads before the schools re-open,” he said.
“Unfortunately, no criminal action is taken against the concerned authorities for their negligence. The concerned contractors and officials should be taken to task for endangering the lives of the public,” Kevin demanded.
