Two vehicles have already fallen into uncovered stretch
CIVIC APATHY: Motorists and pedestrians navigate a dangerous gap near the heart of Mapusa market.
MAPUSA
In Mapusa, civic works continue to crawl at a snail’s pace, exposing the public to daily risk and inconvenience.
Nearly four months after the municipal council began digging up a busy road near the main market to repair a Portuguese-era underground drain, the work remains incomplete.
While most of the drainage line has been covered with concrete slabs, one section continues to remain gaping open in the middle of a road used heavily by motorists and pedestrians.
At least two vehicles have already fallen into the uncovered stretch, while locals say several minor accidents also occurred during the months of excavation but went unreported.
The timing of the work itself raised eyebrows, as shopkeepers and residents had questioned why the project was taken up at the onset of the monsoon.
Their fears have now been proven right – what was meant to be a much-needed repair has turned into a hazard.
What is more disturbing is the complete lack of urgency shown by the Mapusa Municipal Council and the elected councillors responsible for the town’s affairs. Despite the fact that the stretch falls in the heart of the main market – one of the busiest areas in Mapusa – no serious effort has been made to speed up the work or even put in proper safety signage.
Locals say this reflects a larger pattern of neglect. Be it garbage collection, road repairs or providing basic civic amenities, the council is seen as dragging its feet, with no clear timelines for completion of works.
“This is the heart of the market. Hundreds of people and vehicles pass here daily. But the authorities don’t seem to care. They left a death trap in the middle of the road,” said Rajesh Naik, a shopkeeper whose store faces the market road.
Another local, Meena Rodrigues, added, “The work started just before the monsoons when it was least convenient. Now, even after Ganesh Chaturthi and Dussehra, the road is still lying in this state. At this rate, maybe Diwali will pass too.”
Efforts to reach the civic authorities proved futile, as officials from the engineering department declined to respond to calls.
For the thousands who use the market area daily, the open drain is not just an inconvenience but a constant danger.
Many now openly question whether their elected representatives are at all concerned about the welfare of the town or whether civic issues are simply being brushed aside.
The incomplete drain work stands today as a grim reminder of the apathy and lack of accountability that plagues Mapusa’s civic administration.
