Team Herald
PANJIM: Poor drainages and water stagnation during monsoon was the main cause for bad condition of roads, said PWD Chief Engineer (National Highways, Roads and Bridges) D C Gupta.
Participating in a debate hosted by Juino De Souza on HCN, on the roads and bridges in Goa, Gupta said that in the State width of most of the roads is narrow and cannot construct drainages resulting water stagnation on roads. This damages the bitumen and reduces life span of roads causing potholes even as the contractors are liable for any defect as per the defect liability period.
The debate exposed the poor roads conditions such as, deterioration, potholes, uneven surfaces, broken concrete and debris, cracks, improper speed breakers, improper illumination and no proper maintenance being the main cause for increasing road accidents in the State.
The debate also discussed the features and cost of the new signature Zuari Bridge and the connecting road corridor from Patradevi to Verna.
A debate titled “The Harsh Reality of Road and Bridges’ discussed ‘Whether the PWD is stringent in supervising road contractors so as to build quality roads? Why the road lifespan is reduced and why there are numerous potholes during monsoon? Whether there is periodic resurfacing and proper road maintenance? Why the speed breakers are not painted and why the speed bumps do not adhere to the guidelines thereby causing accidents?
Dilip Buildcon Limited Vice President Atul Joshi and Professor and Consultant Adrian D’Cunha, who were also panellists discussed the lack of proper design of ramps at the top and bottom of the approach to bridges and why the ramps are either very steep or having dangerous slopes? The salient features of the new eight-lane Zuari Bridge and the connecting corridor from Patradevi to Verna.
Joshi said that the construction of Zuari Bridge was undertaken as per the time slot given by the Traffic Police and that all equipments were also moved during the given slot. He said the cable-stayed bridge was 640 metres long and it was second largest and widest bridge besides unique in many ways.
D’Cunha said travelling via Zuari Bridge was a nightmare and was consuming lot of travel time.
The debate will be streamed on HCN Goa Youtube channel shortly.
