A series of road accidents, a series of fatalities and injuries and the piles of photos of potholed roads across various parts of the State are testimonies to the continued struggle on road infrastructure, no matter who has been holding the reins of the PWD. Despite commitments, deadlines, and public frustration, the state's roads remain perilous, with potholes taking the lives of innocent individuals year after year. The unsettling truth is that the government’s promises have not transformed into tangible outcomes, revealing a huge disconnect between political vows and ground conditions.
Every rainy season, Goa’s roads become pockmarked with craters ” craters that have become emblematic of risk. Drivers navigating these hazardous roads are at risk of losing control. Recent reports indicate that at least half a dozen fatalities have occurred in Bardez alone, involving victims who encountered potholes, resulting in collisions or skidding off the road. These alarming statistics are merely the beginning; numerous minor injuries, fractures, and disabilities that go unhighlighted reflect the gravity of the crisis. The dangerous mixture of substandard road design and insufficient maintenance has created the ideal environment for disasters.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s 48-hour deadline for pothole repairs was characterised as a decisive action, but the actual situation tells a different story. Contractors and the Public Works Department (PWD) acknowledge that heavy rains impede repairs, yet residents and experts contend that this is an excuse stemming from systemic neglect and poor planning. Roads are excavated for utilities right before the monsoon, hastily filled with stones and mud, only to fall apart within weeks. This cycle of temporary fixes, delayed maintenance, and subsequent decline illustrates a flawed system.
Kamat walking in at this crucial juncture with his goodwill as a successful power minister during earlier regimes provides some hope. His idea of short-term and long-term measures is well-intentioned, but the urgency is not seen on the roads. There is a lot of ground to be covered and vast sections of roads are still filled with potholes, waterlogged craters, and debris ” especially on well-travelled tourist routes. Social media is awash with memes and videos ridiculing the government’s failure to repair roads, further exacerbating public dissatisfaction.
Kamat’s surprise visit to the PWD office at Baina and meeting with MLA Krishna Salkar reviewing the functioning of the office and pending development works in the constituency are good signs. However, again, the new PWD minister will have to go all guns blazing right from the word go. Lest we forget, the State has been witnessing 350 road accidental deaths annually, and the law enforcement agency has set a target to reduce road fatalities by 20% in 2025.
The Road Safety Week, from September 8 to 14, has kicked off with the authorities swinging into action. It is appalling that the authorities are preaching safety at a time when motorists are literally struggling on roads. Road safety should ideally be directed when the infrastructure is in place, unless we are to believe that road safety week is about teaching motorists to navigate the potholed roads.
Authorities must move beyond mere rhetoric, timelines and meetings. Stop the blame game. Infrastructure reforms, strategic long-term planning, stringent enforcement and genuine accountability are urgently required. Until these measures are enacted on a war footing, there is going to be more bloodshed on Goa's roads.
