Amid great pomp and fireworks, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stones to the Observatory Towers and Viewing Galleries on top of the new Zuari bridge while also inaugurating the second arm of the new cable-stayed Zuari bridge. He also laid the foundation stone for the six-lane elevated corridor on NH66 at Porvorim, a project that is expected to ease the traffic congestion in that area.
Gadkari is understandably supportive of Goa’s needs since he has sanctioned a series of infrastructural works in alignment with the development goals the State has been pursuing. At Zuari, he spelt out the finer details of the new bridge, including the quantum of steel that has gone into its making and how it will facilitate better water and road transportation, and the need to improvise road connectivity.
However, his brief mention that the aim should be to minimise road accidents has caught the attention of Goans, because, while the roads have grown wider in recent times, the accident rate has alarmingly jumped higher. Blame it on reckless driving due to spacious roads, faulty road engineering or inconsistent and potholed roads, Goa has witnessed nearly 2,500 accidents this year, with around 250 fatalities. These are staggering figures that can’t be ignored.
The last time Gadkari was in Goa to open the first arm of the new bridge at Zuari on December 22, the Union minister promised Goa some of the finest roads on par with global standards and towers on the line of Eiffel Towers in Paris. The problem in Goa is that nobody is paying attention to the quality of work. We only wish Gadkari had a closer look at cement-topped highways that are rolled out here, and understand that these are nowhere close to the international benchmarks that he spoke of.
Gadkari must understand that delivery has been a major problem in the State, and Goans continue to suffer because, against the huge investment in road infrastructure, the highways cut out a sorry picture and people continue to navigate through wobbly stretches dotted with cracks and patches. On that note, it is heartening that Union minister made a categoric reference to expansion joints and that they may not be good enough.
Gadkari has played a pivotal role in the development of roads and highways across the country. His people-friendly approach and practical outlook on issues have been the hallmark of his leadership. If we may recall, in September 2018, he apologised after experiencing the pathetic condition of the Mumbai-Goa highway which was bumpy and in bad condition. He however blamed the earlier Congress regime but promised a cement-topped 4-way road by 2019.
Goa has indeed seen speedy development, but in that hurry the safety and comfort of citizens cannot be compromised, and the purpose of development will be lost if those primary objectives are not met. Quality has to be a priority. For example, vast concrete portions of the highways are in bad shape and have been patched up with tar. The concrete stretch of the highway from Bambolim to Panaji is not only uneven but has been tarred in several places. There are roads in north Goa, including the ones in Pernem that are literally not motorable.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant narrated the success stories of the BJP government and the development it has undertaken. There is no denying that there is steady progress, but as a State, we cannot take comfort in road infrastructure if road accidents are mounting. The challenge is to identify failures, hold accountability and take course-corrective measures, including acting against erring contractors.
