CM admits utility works damaging roads, promises restoration
PANAJI
Amid a spate of road accidents across Goa, the Opposition on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Public Works Department (PWD), alleging that poorly maintained roads and unregulated utility work were directly responsible for several recent fatalities.
Raising a joint Calling Attention in the Assembly, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, supported by MLAs Carlos Ferreira, Vijai Sardesai, Cruz Silva, Altone D’Costa, Venzy Viegas and Viresh Borkar, urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to take immediate corrective steps. They also accused the government of ignoring Supreme Court directives and repeatedly failing to prioritise road safety.
“Ninety per cent of fatal accidents happen on straight roads. We must find out why. We have already identified accident hotspots. I request the CM to initiate comprehensive road safety reforms to help change people’s behaviour,” Alemao said.
He alleged that despite directions from both the Supreme Court and the State government, the PWD had not taken timely action including proper maintenance, leaving many roads in a hazardous condition.
MLA Silva pointed at accident-prone areas in Velim and warned about the increasing number of mishaps involving rent-a-cab vehicles. MLA Ferreira criticised the PWD’s “substandard repairs,” citing incomplete underground cabling works and unattended potholes as major risks whereas D’Costa highlighted a particularly dangerous black spot at Savri, calling for urgent intervention. He too demanded a crackdown on hit-and-run cases involving rent-a-car vehicles.
Ruling MLA Nilesh Cabral joined the discussion and flagged the issue of the Revona-Zambaulim road, which he said was dug up without obtaining the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC). “Artificial Intelligence should be used to improve planning of road and traffic infrastructure,” he suggested.
Replying to the discussion, CM Sawant – also the PWD Minister, acknowledged the concerns raised but attributed the road damage largely to utility works undertaken by agencies.
“In the process, the existing roads get damaged. Restoration is done later to bring the surface to a motorable condition. In most cases, it is the laying of utilities that causes damage. However, maximum efforts are being made to restore and maintain these roads to reduce inconvenience to commuters,” Sawant said.
He emphasised that road safety was a shared responsibility and cited human error, including rash and drunken driving, as well as speeding, for rising accidents.
To improve safety, he said the PWD had implemented several measures in line with Supreme Court Committee guidelines. These include restoration and maintenance of crash barriers, construction of speed breakers and rumble strips, installation of traffic signboards and road markings, enforcement of speed limits and median plantations.
He also informed the House about issuing show-cause notices to several defaulting contractors, and that restoration works were being carried out at their cost under the Defect Liability Period (DLP).
