The recent fall of 71-year-old Maria Delia de Abreu from her scooter on a damaged road in Taleigao has once again laid bare the fragile state of road infrastructure across Goa, bringing renewed scrutiny on the Public Works Department’s failure to provide safe, pot hole-free roads. Despite a series of promises by PWD Minister Digambar Kamat since his induction into the Cabinet on August 21, road conditions across the State continue to remain far below acceptable standards, exposing commuters to daily risk and underscoring a widening gap between official claims and ground reality.
The latest assurance came as recently as November 22, when the minister announced that all potholes across Goa would be repaired with-in 15 days. However, with the deadline long past, large sections of the State remain riddled with potholes, uneven surfaces and incomplete patchwork. From the capital city of Panjim to major commercial hubs such as Mapusa, and from Taleigao and Santa Cruz to interior belts of Chimbel, Sanguem and Curchorem, commuters face a grim and hazardous road network.
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In several locations, so-called repairs have only worsened driving conditions, with uneven hot-mixing, loose gravel and abrupt level differences making roads treacherous for two-wheelers, pedestrians and senior citizens alike. The consequences of this neglect came into focus in Taleigao recently, where Maria Delia de Abreu was injured after falling from her scooter on a road stretch that had been dug up for over a year and left unattended. Covered with loose debris and gravel, the uneven surface caused her to lose balance, leaving her with bruises and swelling after the scooter fell on her leg.
“Every time I step out, I feel scared. During the rainy season, things were even more difficult as there were many potholes. It became very hard to use the roads, as only half of them were available for motorists,” de Abreu said.
The incident prompted her daughter and social activist Cecille Rodrigues to lodge a formal complaint with the Superintendent of Police, North Goa, demanding accountability from the PWD, Rodrigues pointed out that the stretch continued to be ignored despite repeated complaints to the department and the issue being raised at Gram Sabha meetings. She also flagged a disturbing pattern of road repairs being hurriedly undertaken only ahead of VVIP visits, while routine commuter safety is overlooked.
“I have raised the issue multiple times. But what is the ultimate result? People continue to fall and get injured. Some have been left bedridden, and some have even died.. We want to ask the PWD minister what is stopping the government from providing basic facilities,” Rodrigues said.
Similar accounts are emerging from across the State, In Indira Nagar, Chimbel, residents have been grappling with a nearly one-kilometre stretch of road in a densely populated area that has not seen comprehensive repairs for over a decade. Potholes, uneven and slippery surfaces, poor drainage and malfunctioning street-lights have turned daily commuting into a hazardous exercise, particularly during the monsoon. Local leaders and residents say repeated representations to elected representatives have yielded little more than assurances.
“If ambulances are required, they cannot reach near homes. Transporting sick persons or pregnant women be-comes extremely difficult,” said John Nazareth, Santa Cruz Congress Block President, adding that despite residents paying all taxes, basic infrastructure remains neglected.
“I have raised the issue with the local MLA and was promised that the road would be repaired, but nothing has happened yet. It is a very sorry state of affairs,” Nazareth added. Ikbal Sheikh, a resident of Indira Nagar, Chimbel, said, “The roads are poorly lit. The drains are also in bad shape and get filled even after a passing shower. Several interior roads are in the same condition and are crying out for urgent attention.”
“It has been more than ten years since the road was last repaired properly. Only patchwork is done. Adding salt to the injury is the work carried out by other departments such as electricity and sewage. Roads are dug up and not restored,” said Hussain Saab Chaparband of Chimbel.
In Mapusa, one of North Goa’s busiest towns, major stretches including Market Road, areas near Saraswat School, the Shamshan Bhumi road at Khorlim, Duler and Gausawaddo continue to suffer from broken surfaces and dangerous potholes. Traffic congestion during peak hours further worsens the risk, with vehicles frequently dam-aged and accidents narrowly avoided.
Mapusa-based social activist Sanjay Barde echoed similar concerns, stating. “The government is merely fooling the people. Jet patchers are being deployed, but this is a useless exercise that benefits only the operators. There needs to be a proper quality control system. In many cases, the quality of work is simply not up to the mark.”
Public anger has been further aggravated by the quality of recent patchwork undertaken in some areas. While potholes may have been ‘filled’ on paper, commuters say many of these repairs are uneven, bumpy and poorly compacted, making them as dangerous as the potholes they were meant to fix. Road cuttings carried out by electricity, sewerage and other departments are often left open or in-adequately restored, compounding the problem.
As 2025 draws to a close, the persistence of potholes and substandard roads has cast serious doubt on the effectiveness of the PWD’s planning and execution. While tenders for hot mixing and repairs have been announced, residents across Goa continue to ask why work has either not begun or failed to deliver lasting results.
