MAPUSA
All buses plying on the Assagao Badem Mapusa road were taken off the road on Saturday as a mark of protest against the deteriorating road conditions and multiple road cave-ins in Assagao village.
Bus operators have issued a stern warning, threatening to escalate their agitation if the roads are not repaired within the next eight days.
In a novel and poignant form of protest, buses were parked in a row in front of the Assagao panchayat.
Some bus operators squatted in the potholes, while others brought stones to fill them.
This dramatic display underscored their frustration with the government and local politicians, who they accuse of neglecting Assagao and allowing the roads to remain in poor condition for the past eight months.
The operators expressed concerns about the ongoing rains and the approaching festive season, fearing that road conditions would become even more unbearable.
They lamented their financial losses over the past eight months, citing high diesel prices and expensive spare parts that exacerbate their plight.
One bus driver remarked, "The government charges us heavy road taxes, and if we don’t pay on time, we are fined. Diesel prices have gone up, spare parts are expensive, and due to these bad roads, our vehicles are regularly breaking down."
Despite these challenges, bus operators have continued to run their services as a social obligation.
They criticized the authorities and the local MLA for ignoring this serious issue.
The protest left many Assagao residents stranded, as they were unaware of the bus operators’ decision to halt services.
The roads in Assagao are in such a deplorable state that some areas resemble muddy trails with large potholes instead of proper roads.
Heavy rains have made the situation worse, with water-filled potholes posing significant risks to motorists and pedestrians.
At a recent gram sabha, Assagao Sarpanch Hanumant Naik announced that the panchayat would soon file a public interest litigation (PIL) against the authorities for poor workmanship in laying utility service lines, which has contributed to the destruction of village roads.
Naik assured villagers, "The main road has been completely destroyed due to digging work carried out by the electricity and water departments. We are preparing to file a PIL in the High Court, and by next week, we should have the petition ready."
This protest by private bus operators follows a previous demonstration by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the same issue.
The bus operators' innovative protest, which included sitting in water-filled potholes, highlighted the dire state of Assagao's roads and their desperate need for immediate repair.
