Team Herald
PONDA: Many of us dream of landing on the moon but motorists are forced to go on a bumpy ride while commuting along the “crater-ridden” roads in Ponda, which the residents claim to have turned into death traps.
The residents claim that they have complained to the authorities several times with regard to the pathetic condition of the roads in the town but to no avail. They claim that many riders have suffered injuries while negotiating the pothole-ridden roads. Besides, the locals also complain of having spent huge amount of money on repairs of bikes and cars.
Comparing the potholed roads to the craters on moon, Sandesh Naik, a resident says, “We don’t dream of landing on the moon as we are already experiencing it on Ponda’s pathetic roads.”
Since last two years, the roads have been dug up in Ponda for laying sewerage, gas lines and other development works, but the same have not been repaired properly. Motorists are forced to go on a bumpy ride. Over 1000 sewage chambers have been dug in the town and the government had assured to complete the work before Chaturthi. Barring a few, most of the roads have not been repaired.
A commuter Dulu Kerkar said, “Travelling on the pothole-ridden roads in Ponda and also along the new bypass highway is horrifying, as the same have turned into death traps.”
He said that the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should provide immediate relief to the Ponda residents by repairing and hot-mixing the roads after monsoons.
Another traveller Prajyoth Naik claimed that many riders suffered injuries after falling off their bikes while negotiating the pothole-ridden roads.
Hanumanth Naik said, “We are taxpayers and the government should provide us with good roads. The roads dug for development works are not repaired properly. Rubble soling is not carried out and the road conditions have deteriorated further. The government should now pay attention to roads as Pondaitees are struggling during the Chaturthi.”
