While BRICS had brought in the much-needed glamour to the National Highway 17 B connecting Dabolim international airport to NH17, the current scenario indicates that the sheen has faded fast, forcing people to question whether the makeover was only for the sake of VVIPs.
In fact, the government spent Rs 10 crore to beautify the National Highway 17B stretch from Varunapuri to Verna for the BRICS summit in Goa, but the way this highway stretch has been left only points that authorities not only failed to maintain the makeover but left the greenery as fodder for the stray cattle.
Inquiries with the office of National High Authority India (NHAI), Goa region revealed that after the State was selected to host 2016 BRICS summit, the NHAI authorities took up the work of asphalting, beautification and illumination of NH17 B from Varunapuri to Verna at the cost of Rs 15 crores.
It was also revealed that a team of about 200-odd workforce, including engineers, supervisors and laborers jointly put in efforts day and night and managed to complete the daunting task, which also included electrification of 400 electric poles within 22 days. However, seeing the ground reality today, it appears that the public money spent on makeover of this road is going down the drain with 50 per cent of what was done, coming undone in the last 16 months, much to the irritation of concerned citizens from the port town.
“We thought after the BRICS 2016 summit, the highway that was beautified would be maintained, but it is sad to note that cattle have been using the beautified portion of road divider either for resting or eating the plants. If this continues in some days no plants would be seen on the divider and money that was used to beautify the road would go down the drains,” said Vasco-based social activist Preetam Keluskar.
While the leftover greenery still acts as fodder for stray cattle, the electrification done on this road is also facing total neglect as over 50 per cent streetlights on this road are either defunct or non-functional, leaving the road in dark and unsafe for motorists.
“It is true that the maintenance of the beautified portion of the NH is our responsibility, but at the same time we need help from panchayat to support us in curbing cattle menace, as directed by the collector South Goa or else the whole effort would turn futile,” NHAI Project Director Goa region (NH17-B) P S Doddamani said.
The streetlights are not functional at different areas under this road stretch due to fluctuation, as the load is insufficient and keeps tripping, he said, adding that the contractor has been asked to rectify the problem. “We are going to renew the maintenance contract of Rs 9 crore and then the area will be maintained,” he assured.
Meanwhile, citizens are not happy with the way the NH17-B, for which the government spent Rs 10 crores is facing constant neglect and have questioned whether they deserves this road less than Putin or Xi Jinping.
“We understand that this road was beautified due to 2016 BRICS summit in Goa where state heads from different countries attended. However, they should have maintained the road as public money was spent for beautification. The way this road has been left neglected makes us feel that the government or NHAI gives importance to VVIPs and not its citizens,” a social worker from Vasco, Sandeep Patel said.
Hopefully, NHAI’s fulfill its assurance of maintaining the glamour of this NH17 B or else the current 50 per cent of the glamour left here would also be lost in days to come and the highway will once again become dark, ugly and without regular maintenance, just as it was before the BRICS summit.
