Road conditions in Goa are the worst ever

HERALD: Who do you feel should we hold responsible for the bad/worst road conditions? Are the contractors using sub-standard material?
ROLAND MARTINS: Presently the condition of the roads in Goa is the worst ever and the Public Works Department (PWD) (Works Division Roads) being the Department that oversees the tendering process and issues the work orders has to take the responsibility.
HERALD: Is involvement of two agencies – PWD & GSIDC – hampering the development and maintenance of roads?
MARTINS: I do not think the involvement of two agencies is hampering the development and maintenance of roads as both these agencies have their respective work manuals, time schedules and supervisory responsibilities. The non implementation of the same by the respective agencies has resulted in the present problems of the roads.
HERALD: Is government undertaking any audit of the roads? Should centre funding be based on it?
MARTINS: To my knowledge, no audits of the road works are being undertaken the way they should be done or else the roads wouldn’t be in this conditions these monsoons. If non release of Central funds can act as a deterrent, then the same pressure should be applied to get the required audits done.
HERALD: So what is the way to good roads? Does the govt need to fix accountability and act accordingly?
MARTINS: The first step must be ccitizen’s vigilance.The required supervisory committees at the Village Panchayat level, must be appointed. A greater amount of transparency in allotment of road works being undertaken in all the 40 Constituencies, is needed. This can be done by listing the details of the Contractors undertaking the works as mandated at the site and on the PWD website. Yes, enforcing accountability and undertaking social audits are the way forward for Goa.