PONDA: Upset over the poor road condition in Ponda town and surrounding areas on account of ongoing sewage line work for the past four years, Pondaites on Friday asked the government if the motor vehicle fines are increased for the safety of drivers, why the road condition is in dilapidated state in most part of the taluka.
Naseer Sheikh and many other workers working at Kundaim Industrial Estate said, “The road in the industrial estate area is in worst condition, and hundreds of commuters using this stretch suffers physically. Also bike riders have met in self accidents and injured.”
“We have demanded to restore the road immediately. We are taxpayers and hope for good roads. Since past four months, we had also protested twice at the Kundaim Industrial Estate to fulfill our demand,” Naseer said.
A social worker from Ponda, Vishal Fadte said, “The increase in fines by the government appears to be only for revenue generation and not bothered about the road safety measures. Many roads have no proper signboards, no painting on speed breakers. The car drivers and bike riders pass speeding through the junctions and highways inviting accidents but the government has no machinery to intercept them and fine.”
He said, “Monsoon is round the corner but no sign of restoring the roads dug for sewage line. Once the road is hot-mixed at least two months sunlight is need for curing.”
“If the roads are tarred just before the monsoon they get washed away,” the commuters said.
Further, Vishal said, “We spend lot of money repairing our vehicles after driving through the potholes and dug roads for sewage line. Only few roads in the town area are hot-mixed. The roads at Daag, Upper Bazaar, KTC bus stand and many other areas are in worst condition and need urgent repairs and restoration before monsoon.”
He said, “The government should reduce the fines. In COVID-19 pandemic, many people were jobless and have no money to pay huge fines.”
With just two months left for monsoon, the locals hope the government would hot-mix the roads on war footing.
