VASCO: Vasco locals have questioned why every year they are faced with bad roads. This year too, the internal and highway roads are full of potholes. The rough patchwork applied as a stop-gap measure, also gives way very soon.
And it is not just Vasco locals but the many commuters, who travel to the Port town, who have been demanding for good quality roads given that every day is a bumpy ride for them.
Local resident Ram Bhonsule said there should be a permanent solution to these bad roads as opposed to it being an annual problem. He gave the examples of internal and main roads from Mormugao taluka, the Chicalim slope, near Vaddem lake and the GSL stretch.
Another senior citizen from Chicalim also complained about how the roads deteriorate during the monsoons. He added that the conditions of the roads haven’t been improved in years.
A student, Kunal Tulaskar rued the fact that they have to face a rough journey if they travel by bus or on two-wheelers.
“Many people have had a fall while trying to dodge the huge potholes. Others have faced problems of muck and dirt from the road splashing onto their faces and clothes every time someone goes over these potholes, “said Kunal while adding that he too had to endure such an experience.
Other locals also pointed out that the bad roads causes accidents and also leads to the need for repairing vehicles and tyres.
When contacted, Vasco PWD roads Assistant Angineer Pandurang Naik, said as per his knowledge there are few places where there are potholes and some rough patches on internal roads. “Before monsoon the patchwork and filling of potholes was done. The next patchwork of the internal road will happen only in the Month of November or in December this year,” he added.
On Monday, labourers were filling up the potholes and the rough patches at the New Vaddem junction area. But how long the patchwork will stay is the big question, according to locals.
They say this as the stretch of road from Vaddem lake till GSL road had seen some patchwork but within a month’s time it was washed away due to the heavy rains, leaving potholes on the road.
The highway road from Mormugao till Chicalim stretch is no better to commute with several rough patches and huge potholes at various places.
