I would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to the serious dangers posed by the massive potholes and stray cattle along the Cunchelim–Siolim–Marna road. The problem begins right at the entrance to the Cunchelim stretch, which is riddled with deep potholes. The situation near the petrol pump is even worse — there’s barely any motorable surface left.
Every day, students travelling to school and those heading to the ITI at Marna risk their lives. As Principal of the Indo-German Techno Centre, I am compelled to handle accident cases almost every other day — involving students, parents, or even staff. Many of these accidents result in serious injuries that require medical attention and force students to miss classes for several days.
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Fear of accidents has now gripped many of our students, leading to increasing absenteeism. Last year, one of my teachers suffered head injuries in a similar fall and had to be hospitalised. Countless commuters face the same ordeal daily, particularly two-wheeler riders who are most vulnerable. The situation worsens during rains, when water fills the potholes, concealing their depth and causing more crashes.
Despite several mishaps — some even fatal — the authorities seem indifferent to public suffering. To make matters worse, stray cattle loitering on this busy road add another layer of danger. Neither the Mapusa Municipal Council nor the Siolim–Marna Panchayat has taken concrete action to address these long-standing issues.
This road, used daily by hundreds of locals, students, and tourists travelling towards the North Goa coastal belt, has effectively become an accident-prone zone. I urge the Mapusa Municipal Council and the Siolim–Marna Panchayat to take immediate steps to repair the road and clear stray cattle from the stretch. The High Court’s directives on road and animal safety must be implemented in letter and spirit.
