The Goan Network
Panjim
The Public Works Department (PWD) was on Tuesday slammed for not carrying out timely safety audits of roads and road works being carried out by contractors who fail to comply with road safety guidelines.
NGO Goa Civic and Consumers Action Network (GOACAN) came down heavily on the PWD at the North Goa Road Safety Council District meeting chaired by Additional Collector Vikas Gaunekar.
Co-ordinator Roland Martins questioned who was conducting safety audits of the road works, especially from Panjim to Patradevi.
Pointing to all the roads that have been dug up and shoddily put back together in Panjim last week, Martins asked who was accountable for road accidents that took place when no sign boards were put up stating the purpose for the digging, or cautioning commuters to go slow.
"The agencies undertaking these works have to put a board with their name, address, e-mail and phone number so that people commuting on those routes know whom to contact in case of an emergency," said Martins.
The PWD was also asked to issue show-cause notices to contractors not complying with safety measures.
Representing the PWD at the meeting was Narayan Mayekar, executive engineer, works division VII of the National Highway.
GOACAN also wrote to the Collector, the District Consumer Protection Officer, the SP Traffic, the Member Secretary of the District Road Safety Council, Dy. Director Transport (N), the Member Secretary of the North District Consumer Protection Council, and the Assistant Director, Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, making them aware of the current state of the roads in the city which pose a threat to citizens and asking that a permanent plan of action be drawn up after calling for a meeting with the agencies who have dug up the roads so that roads can be brought back to their original state in a time bound manner.
The memorandum states that no display board has been placed at any of the sites where digging for laying of cables is being undertaken which gives the name of the agency authorizing the work, the name of the contractor undertaking the work, the period of time by which the work will be completed and the mobile number for purpose of contact in case of emergency.
