Locals rap govt as May 15 hotmixing deadline looms
THE ROADS LESS FIXED: Local resident and social worker Sanjay Barde, along with others, submits a memorandum to the PWD Executive Engineer on Thursday, urging immediate repairs to Mapusa's deteriorating roads.
MAPUSA
With the May 15 deadline for hotmixing roads fast approaching, residents across Mapusa have launched a fresh wave of criticism against government authorities and the local political leadership over the deplorable condition of roads in the town.
Years of broken promises, half-dug roads and delayed restoration work have pushed the public’s patience to the brink.
Anger is particularly high in areas such as Angod and Gaunsavaddo, where large stretches of road have remained in a poor state for months following excavation for utility services.
The dust, debris and potholes have caused daily hardship for commuters, business owners, and pedestrians alike.
Local MLA Joshua D’Souza had earlier convened meetings with Public Works Department (PWD) engineers and assured citizens that a comprehensive hotmixing drive would be taken up in Mapusa.
However, with less than a week to go before the hotmixing plants shut down for the monsoon season, those promises appear to be unfulfilled.
“It’s the same story every year – promises made before the deadline, and nothing done when it matters most. Why is Mapusa being neglected when other constituencies are already receiving fresh road surfacing?” said Sanjay Barde, a local resident and social worker, who on Thursday wrote to the PWD Executive Engineer of Division XIII and the Chairperson and Chief Officer of the Mapusa Municipal Council.
Barde pointed out the disparity in infrastructure work across Goa.
“We are paying all our taxes – road tax, house tax, GST – but we don’t even get a basic necessity like motorable roads. It’s completely unacceptable,” he said.
Frustration among
business owners
The consequences of poor road management are being felt not just by motorists but by businesses as well. Laura D’Sa, a pharmacy owner in Angod, described the daily struggle of keeping her premises clean due to constant dust.
“I’ve had to shut one side of my pharmacy permanently. The dust settles on the counters every hour. It’s affecting my health and my customers. They dug up the road for underground cabling and water lines over six months ago,” D’Sa said.
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, criticised the chaotic approach to road excavation.
“The departments just bring in a JCB, dig up roads randomly and leave. Why can’t they finish one road properly before starting another? There’s no planning – just disruption,” he said.
A neglected ward
In Gaunsavaddo, frustration has reached boiling point. Salim, a resident of the area, claims the roads in his ward haven’t seen proper repair or hotmixing for over six years.
“Every monsoon, it’s the same horror – slush, waterlogging, potholes. And this year, there’s no sign of change. We are tired of hearing promises that lead nowhere,” he said.
With the PWD’s annual hotmixing window set to close on May 15 due to the monsoon shutdown of plants, time is running out for any meaningful repair work to be initiated.
As frustration mounts and dust continues to rise with every passing vehicle, the people of Mapusa are making it clear: broken roads are no longer just an inconvenience – they’re a symbol of broken governance.
