MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has directed the temporary suspension of licences for road contractors responsible for unfinished road repairs, emphasising that all roads in Goa must be made motorable by the end of November.
Contractors facing delays will also be barred from participating in any new projects until the repairs are completed.
During a high-level meeting with officials from the Public Works Department (PWD), Electricity Department, and Water Resources Department (WRD), Sawant highlighted the State’s priority to repair 1,200-km damaged roads.
These roads have suffered due to infrastructure projects such as the laying of underground power cables, water pipelines, and sewerage systems and now fall outside the defect liability period (DLP).
Sawant revealed that 27 road contractors, along with 30 engineers “ including Executive Engineers, Assistant Engineers, and Junior Engineers “ have been issued show-cause notices for failing to ensure quality road construction and timely maintenance.
He further directed that disciplinary action be taken against those responsible for substandard work, with penalties ranging from minor to major depending on the investigation outcomes. "There will be a vigilance inquiry against them, which will affect their promotions in the future," Sawant stated.
To improve accountability, the Chief Minister has mandated that all engineers who have been working in the Roads Division for five years or more be reassigned to other positions. This move aims to inject fresh perspectives into the division and ensure greater accountability within the department.
The PWD has also been instructed to issue a notification regarding increased rates for road-cutting activities, ensuring better control over such operations.
