Team Herald
VASCO: The hardship of the motorists plying along the roads in the Verna Industrial Estate, which have developed potholes, is likely to continue as the PWD is facing a major financial crisis.
According to PWD Assistant Engineer Prasad Panandikar (in charge of NH17 B road inside Verna Industrial Estate) the potholes on the main road inside Verna Industrial Estate cannot be taken up for few reasons but importantly because of a circular issued by the Principal Chief Engineer where in it has been directed that no tenders would be invited for six types of works including filling up of potholes till the end of monsoon. Similarly, it was also directed to take up any emergency works departmentally. However, the department does not have funds to procure the material required to carry out the repair work.
“We cannot take up the road repairs because of a circular, and cannot fill up any potholes or carry out any other maintenance works because there are no funds. Our hands are tied and we can’t do anything. We can only put up the report and wait for orders to come. Presently, we don’t have material, labour and hence the question of taking up the road repair work inside the Verna Industrial Estate does not arise,” Panandikar said.
He further said, “Also if we try to carry out the works departmentally then we don’t have any single road roller and our old road rollers have been non-functional. Without a road roller we cannot fill up any potholes. Secondly, we have to procure the material, but for that, we don’t have the money,” he said.
When asked if there is any proposal to provide a permanent solution to the road which was tarred some five years ago and in need of urgent repairs, Panandikar said, “The tender for tarring the road had been awarded long ago and we are waiting for monsoons to end. It is Rs 46 crore worth job given to a contractor where he would widen the existing road into a four-lane with footpaths and two flyovers at two important junctions. The work will start somewhere in October or November this year and would be completed within two years.”
Meanwhile, the roads inside Verna industrial estate, which have developed potholes, have left the industrialists and their workmen upset.
Verna Industries Association (VIA) president Damodar Kochkar said, “It is quite surprising to note that the potholes cannot be repaired at Verna Industrial Estate due to lack of funds. If PWD wants then we can ask IDC to release some money for such important works as these potholes have become a death trap for motorists and need immediate repairs. We cannot wait for monsoons to end and therefore we demand immediate repairs of these potholes on priority.”
