The Ponda Traffic Cell has identified atleast four major blind spots which are hotspots of accidents along the National Highway and suggested a slew of recommendations to the government. On the other hand, in the northern corner of the State, villagers in Ugvem, Pernem are up in arms against the government’s failure to fulfill its promises while undertaking expansion of the National Highway. Villagers have been suffering for the last five years with no service roads, missing bus stops, road crossings and under-passes. Farmers had to give up farming activity since two years as their lands have gone barren and destroyed due to continuous construction activity. During this course of time, the Pernem taluka is witness to numerous accidents including fatal ones, leaving behind devastated families of locals as well as tourists.
From Pernem to Canacona and Mormugao to Dharbandora, Goans have been suffering on account of bad roads. At the end of the day, all accident reports point fingers at different causes except bad roads. O Heraldo’s weekly Citizen Herald section receives reports from across the State highlighting the pathetic conditions of the roads. The concrete roads were provided as an alternative to annual refurbishing and hot-mixing of roads, however, the concrete roads which had been promised to have a life span of 50 years have not even lasted 50 months. The deep cracks and potholes on the concreted highways are a living testimony of the failed job of the government and its contractors.
Even after years of trying to ‘smarten’ Panjim, the Smart City project is only adding to the sufferings of the citizens. The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) has once again announced its plans to literally dig every bit of Panjim on account of making Smart roads. The capital city will be hosting the National Games that will be kicked off from October 26, and then the International Film Festival of India, Serendipity Arts Festival, the list of other events goes on. However, except for the Dayanand Bandodkar Road, the rest of the city and the peripheries are already facing difficult times, and with announcements of road closures and further digging plans, citizens are only to expect worst days ahead.
But, one won’t in the least be surprised if just days ahead of the official inauguration of National Games, some of the roads in Panjim receive cosmetic facelift for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the games.
Last year in October, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant set out on an ambitious route of drawing up a Road Safety Management Plan and invited the public to an open forum along with his cabinet colleagues and officials from the police, PWD and transport departments. At the end of the discussion, the Chief Minister announced that a comprehensive report would be prepared within a fortnight, and implementation of a robust plan to tackle the issue of road safety would begin from December 1, last year. It is a year already and nothing has moved except assurances from one platform to another.
The government is busy announcing policies and decisions, but execution is missing on the ground. Citizens are kept busy discussing policies and fighting for their rights, while the government and its agencies escape accountability. The government is only strong till it acknowledges the foundation of accountability to its citizens, on which it stands.
There is a Turkish proverb which states, “No matter how far you’ve gone down the wrong road, you can always turn around”. Goans hope the government of the day turns around and fulfills its promises to the citizens of the State.
