MAPUSA
North Goa District Congress President Amarnath Panjikar on Saturday challenged the government to either repair a 100-metre bad stretch of service road on the NH-17 or allow the Congress party to do the job.
"If you (government) cannot do it then please give us a written permission. We (Congress) will repair the road at our own cost," said Panjikar, addressing a news conference in Mapusa.
A small stretch of the service road on NH-17 which leads to the villages of Aldona and Bastora has developed huge potholes making it difficult for motorists to negotiate the stretch.
Many two-wheelers have had a fall due to large potholes on the road which becomes unpredictable when filled with rain water.
Listing the difficulties people face while negotiating the ruined service road, Panjikar said the stretch remained in the dark in the nights making it difficult to predict the size of the potholes.
He further disclosed that the concerned department has failed to display adequate traffic signals with proper directions along the stretch.
The district Congress chief said that people wanting to board public buses on way to Moira, Nachinola, Aldona, Gavar, Pomburpa-Olaulim etc have to stand in the muck round the same stretch.
Lashing out at the government and the local MLA, he said the service road badly needs servicing and wondered whether the government was concerned about people's woes.
"This government is blind and deaf when it comes to resolve difficulties faced by common man. But yet they have a big mouth," Panjikar hit out.
Stating that officials in government departments have become lazy, he said traffic booths stationed along the stretch only remains as showpiece.
"The cop on duty is either out or talking on the phone or sitting inside the booth. He is hardly seen regulating the traffic," he said.
Pointing to deteriorating condition of Mapusa roads, National Students Union of India, District, President, Mhambleshwar Toraskar said the government should focus on providing basic amenities for the people of the State.
"Instead of trying to poach MLAs and gain majority, the BJP should focus on governance and providing proper infrastructure in the State," Toraskar said.
Mapusa Congress Block President Vijay Bhike pointed out that one could only see new constructions coming up in Mapusa and wondered what happened to government's promise to build a Kala Bhavan in the city.
"Kala Bhavan is the need of the hour in Mapusa. The govt should channelize its energy to build a cultural centre at the earliest," Bhike said.
