Mapusa market roads get patch repairs during monsoon break

MONSOON BREATHER: Patch-up work underway near Shakuntala Lane in the Mapusa municipal market on Sunday, as authorities take advantage of the dry spell to fix pothole-ridden roads.

Mapusa

Taking advantage of a brief lull in the monsoon, authorities on Sunday undertook long-pending repair work on several internal roads in the Mapusa municipal market, bringing temporary relief to traders and shoppers alike.

The roads, many of which had deteriorated after underground cabling work by the electricity department last year, had developed large potholes and sunken patches, making movement difficult in the busy commercial hub.

While patchwork had been attempted earlier, it failed to hold up, leading to repeated complaints from the local business community.

On Sunday, a jet patcher machine was deployed to repair the damaged stretches, particularly along Shakuntala Lane, one of the key access roads within the market.

At least five major potholes were filled using the jetpatcher technology, which uses high-pressure air and asphalt emulsion to seal potholes.

“It’s a welcome move. The authorities have shown cooperation and have taken up the repairs seriously,” said Jeetendra Falari, President of the Mapusa Merchants Association (MMA).

“It may not solve everything, but it certainly helps reduce the inconvenience for both merchants and visitors,” he added.

However, Falari noted that the machine was unable to access the narrow inner lanes of the market.

“Municipal officials have assured us that they will carry out repairs in those lanes using concrete filling, since the jetpatcher cannot manoeuvre into those tight spaces,” he said.

Despite the progress, not everyone was satisfied with the timing and execution of the work. Some traders questioned the effectiveness of last-minute repairs just before heavier rains are expected.

“This should have been done before the monsoon, not in the middle of it. There’s no guarantee the patchwork will survive the rains. It seems like a hasty response to criticism against the council,” said a trader who did not wish to be named.

Meanwhile, residents of Angod, a locality adjacent to the market area, have also called on authorities to extend road repair work to their neighbourhood, which has been left battered by the early monsoon.

“The rains have taken a break. This is the right time to repair the main road near Alankar Theatre and other internal roads that are riddled with potholes. We hope the municipality doesn’t forget us,” said Suraj Naik, a resident of Angod.

With a yellow alert already issued by the India Meteorological Department, residents and traders are keeping their fingers crossed that the repair work will hold up – and that the authorities act swiftly to address remaining trouble spots in the coming days.