The road at Madel caved in on Saturday. Authorities undertake repair work.
MARGAO
The Madel road in Fatorda caved in once again on Saturday, posing a serious risk to motorists and renewing concerns over the quality of road restoration following underground infrastructure works.
The cave-in also damaged an underground water pipeline, prompting authorities to undertake immediate repair work.
This is not the first such incident on the stretch connecting Madel to the Margao-Mungul road. A similar cave-in had occurred last year near the chapel at the entrance to the road, with residents then attributing the collapse to the underground sewage line.
Former Margao Municipal councillor Francis Joanes, along with local residents, immediately alerted the authorities after Saturday’s incident, warning that the sunken road posed danger to commuters.
Authorities subsequently restricted traffic on the affected stretch and began restoration work by filling the damaged portion with rubble stones. Repairs to the damaged water pipeline were also taken up simultaneously.
Residents have blamed the repeated cave-ins on what they describe as substandard road restoration after the laying of the underground sewage network.
“It is apparent that the road is sinking because it has not been restored as per the prescribed norms. The authorities should immediately conduct an audit of the road and rectify the defects,” a local resident demanded.
The latest incident has once again raised questions over the quality of road restoration works carried out after the completion of underground utility projects in the area.
