TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: While the monsoons are far from over in Goa, reckless digging of roads before the onset of the monsoons and failure to get it repaired have started taking its toll on city roads and highways which are in bad shape.
The roads in Panjim and its surrounding areas seem to be the worst as the PWD continues to work despite the heavy downpour and fully aware of the fact that no repairs is possible before the end of monsoons.
While roads in Taleigao, Caranzalem and Dona Paula are in bad shape, the Porvorim-Mapusa highway has deteriorated despite repair works carried out prior to the monsoons.
The new by-pass from Goa Velha to Agassaim, the Verna bypass and several internal routes are showing signs of wearing out with potholes and depressions posing huge problems for vehicular traffic.
Not surprising, the PWD continues to lament over shortage of funds that may hit road repair works this year too.
“Increasing salaries and payment of previous bills of the contractors leaves us with just 30 to 40 per cent of the PWD budget for road repairs,” said Principal Chief Engineer J S Rego when contacted by this paper.
Rego said that even though the PWD tries to maintain Rs 80 crore, out of its Rs 200 crore budget, for road works which includes repairs and reinstatement after the monsoons, it does not suffice. The costs are escalating by 10 per cent every year.
Last year, it is learnt, that the PWD had an additional 20 per cent burden on road repairs as it had insufficient funds to undertake pre-monsoon repairs leaving road conditions in bad shape.
In many cases where repairs had been carried out, had to be re-done after the monsoons.
“This time again we will do an assessment of the condition of roads after the monsoons and get them repaired,” Rego said and did not rule out action against the defaulting contractors.
Rego said that as far as the new by-passes and new roads are concerned, the contractors will have to carry out the maintenance for the five-years as per the undertaking. He admitted that in many cases the absence of drains, culverts and other water outlets along the by-pass were responsible for bad road conditions.
