MAPUSA
With the rains finally easing, authorities have begun patchwork on the battered Saligao-Pilerne road, which had developed massive potholes and even sections that had washed away during the monsoon.
Saligao Sarpanch Lucas Remedios confirmed that the entire 2-km stretch will be hotmixed in the first week of October. “We have started patching up potholes. Once this is done, hotmixing will be taken up in October to ensure a lasting solution,” Remedios told reporters.
The road has been in a state of disrepair for months, primarily because it was dug up twice “ first for underground cabling, and later for replacement of an ageing water pipeline.
Repair works were further delayed as the project coincided with the onset of the monsoon, leaving motorists stranded with a severely damaged road through the rains.
Residents and commuters bore the brunt of the neglect. For nearly four months, the road was riddled with deep craters, turning it nearly unmotorable. Public buses even suspended services on the route, causing hardship to locals and schoolchildren who depend on them.
Last week, Saligao MLA Kedar Naik chaired a meeting with PWD engineers and contractors to expedite the restoration. Remedios has assured that quality standards will be closely monitored.
“The Panchayat will inspect the works while they are underway to ensure the road lasts at least 10 years,” he said.
For residents of Saligao and surrounding areas, the long wait for a smooth and reliable road link may finally be nearing its end.
