MAPUSA
The monsoon has once again laid bare the inefficiencies of road restoration following utility works across key parts of Bardez.
From Saligao to Siolim, Mapusa to Aldona, the common thread running through these areas is a grim tale of roads dug up for development, only to be left in disrepair – posing danger to motorists and disrupting daily life.
What began as essential work to lay underground utilities – power cables, water pipelines and sewerage networks – has turned into a nightmare for commuters. The lack of proper planning, poor coordination among departments and shoddy restoration work have meant that roads are either temporarily patched or not restored at all.
And with the early arrival of monsoon this year, the situation has further worsened.
Take Saligao, for instance. If someone says the roads there are in “bad shape,” it would be an understatement. The road from Saligao junction leading to the Pilerne Industrial Estate resembles a muddy trail rather than a motorable surface. During rains, it becomes treacherous – especially for two-wheeler riders.
“For the second consecutive year, we are suffering. Last year, the Water Resources Department dug up this road to lay a new pipeline and left it broken. This year, the Electricity Department dug it up again to lay the 33KV line. It’s like adding insult to injury,” said Aurio Carvalho a local resident.
In January, the road was temporarily repaired, but by March, it was excavated once more. With rains arriving early, only makeshift concrete work was done to fill up the trenches.
But that didn’t last long. Within days of the first showers, the so-called repairs washed away, leaving deep depressions and murky stretches.
The story is similar in Siolim. While some roads were repaired and hotmixed, crucial stretches – especially from the Verla-Canca border up to Assagao and further to Anjuna – remain in a dismal state. Ironically, this stretch is frequented by tourists heading to Anjuna beach.
The work on widening the road is cited as the reason for delays in repair. But that brings little consolation to locals and visitors who now have to brave potholes and muddy patches.
In Aldona, nearly 67 km of road length was dug up last year for underground cabling. While some stretches have been hotmixed, many remain unrestored even as the rains set in. The result? Uneven roads, poor grip, and a constant risk of accidents.
The situation is equally bleak in Mapusa. In Angod, roads were dug up twice – first for power cabling, then for laying new water pipelines. The patchwork done in haste has come undone.
"You drive through Angod, and it feels like navigating a minefield," said Mohandas Naik, a motorcycle pilot.
Most roads are riddled with depressions, broken patches and loose gravel, turning even short commutes into hazardous journeys.
Across all these locations, a recurring issue is the lack of coordination among government departments.
"It’s not the utility work that’s the problem – it’s the way it’s done. If departments worked in sync and restoration was taken seriously, this mess could be avoided," said a civic expert.
In the name of progress, roads have been sacrificed and people are paying the price – quite literally with their time, fuel, vehicle wear and tear and in some cases, their safety.
As the monsoon intensifies, the question remains: Will there ever be accountability for the poor post-utility road work? Or will the public continue to suffer every time development decides to come calling?
