What is the reason behind Atal Setu developing potholes, and why are ministers passing the buck? Former PWD minister and currently power minister in the Pramod Sawant cabinet, Sudin Dhavalikar has reassured that the bridge is not in bad condition and has vouched for the construction company. He blamed it on a technical problem with concrete and bitumen and attributed the problem to the hot weather in Goa while squarely blaming it on the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (GSIDC) that executed the works. Earlier, PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral stated that IIT Madras would prepare a report on the status of the bridge and the recurring potholes on the surface.
The imposing Atal Setu which has been the new landmark of the capital city and a cynosure of tourists' eyes has cut out a sorry figure with multiple potholes on the surface area throwing motorists at risk. Ideally, the iconic bridge, built at a whopping Rs 830-plus crores and all the ‘josh’ that came along, should have been used to showcase Goa’s development and growth, instead, it has only ended up exposing the ugly side of our infrastructure story. While an IIT being engaged to study the issue is acceptable and could be a diplomatic solution to the raging issue, blaming Goa’s weather is the most bizarre and irrational argument that one can think of.
It is learnt that thermal expansion can affect the roadbed of bridges with expansion or contraction, but the point here is about extreme temperatures and heatwaves. Goa has seen a marginal rise in mercury which is consistently below 40 degrees. If our ministers start blaming the weather for the poor condition of our bridges and roads, then may God save our State and the motorists.
While the potholes and condition of the Atal Setu surface are under study, there is another major problem that is staring at us every day. The pathetic and uneven concrete surface of the newly laid flyovers that have a patchwork of bitumen all over with the many potholes and depressions that have been surfacing are creating a nuisance to motorists. We were promised state-of-art highways and smooth flyovers. How does the State government go about undoing this damage? Is there another IIT that is going to be engaged to study these phenomena, or is this too because of the climatic change?
The promise of development and the extravagant growth story sounds so hollow in the wake of the sub-standard quality on display that a strong suspicion is emerging about the government's role in these projects because responsibility has not been fixed, and contractors continue to get away with shoddy work. Ideally, the State government should have had its independent checks and balances and quality-control measures in place in a phased manner. We can't be stock-taking and evaluating after the damage is already done. Time and again, evaluation has been failing, and roads in Goa are developing potholes in the shortest period. Freshly laid hotmix tops have been wiped off with the impact of early monsoon showers and motorists continue to face the brunt.
It’s time to fix responsibility and begin cracking down on those who have compromised on an infrastructure that was supposed to be world-class.
