The fact that all village roads are narrow is known. So much so that the Regional Plan 2021 had proposed 6 metres roads in village.
With the increasing vehicular traffic and of pedestrians, everyone has to fight for a space for their safety.
The government instead of broadening the roads is in undue hurry to make these roads still narrower. This is the case in many villages. Take for instance the road from Arossim Railway Gate four-road junction to Arossim St Lawrence Chapel.
This road was built in 1999 fighting against all adversaries. The width of the tarred area is just about 3 metres, hardly enough for a car and a scooter to cross each other. In between the pedestrians going to the Chapel have to fight for their life by stepping aside in the open land.
Now the PWD has constructed a water drain (almost complete) on the western side encroaching on the area where pedestrians used to take refuge to safeguard their life and limbs.
The situation will be acute on Sundays and novena days when the crowds and vehicles overflow the road. The mystery is who proposed this water drain.
The panchayat does not seem to be in picture on this nor are any villagers. On the contrary, the villagers are aghast against this senseless and monstrous work.
This is nothing but scarce government money going waste down the drain, since there was no water logging problem on this road.
The only beneficiaries may be the contractor and the engineers. What is surprising that the local MLA is either indifferent or ignorant of ground realities or is misled by some people. This waste of money makes me wonder why not a single new road construction is taken up in Arossim as outlined in the election manifesto of late Matanhy Saldanha.
