MAPUSA
A bout of heavy rain last week turned the freshly widened stretch of road near Bodgeshwar temple into a shallow lake “ a glaring indictment of the Public Works Department’s (PWD) execution and planning.
The road, which was taken up for widening and partial hotmixing just before the monsoon, was expected to offer smooth, trouble-free commuting during the rainy season.
Instead, it turned into a shallow lake last week, forcing vehicles to wade through knee-deep water.
“This is unacceptable. They spent lakhs on redoing the road, but forgot the most important thing “ letting the rainwater drain out. Every time it pours, we are stuck in the same mess,” said Rajan Naik, a shopkeeper near the temple.
The problem is not confined to the Bodgeshwar stretch.
Just a little further at Verla-Canca, waterlogging occurs even after moderate rainfall.
Locals say it’s because contractors either did not follow specifications or failed to leave adequate outlets for excess water to escape.
“Driving here in the rain is like driving through a pond. We have been telling the authorities about this for years, but nothing changes,” said local resident Vinay Prabhu.
Similar scenes unfold at the Panaji-Mapusa entry point during every monsoon. Heavy rain turns the stretch into a flood zone, causing inconvenience and traffic snarls.
A retired PWD engineer said the problem stems from a lack of long-term planning.
“Drainage is not an afterthought “ it is the first thing that should be integrated into road design. If stormwater outlets are absent or inadequate, you will see this same problem year after year,” he explained.
When contacted, a senior PWD official acknowledged the complaints.
“We are aware of the waterlogging issues at certain points and will review the drainage design on these stretches. Remedial work will be taken up once the monsoon subsides,” the official said.
For now, commuters continue to brace themselves for mini floods every time the skies open “ an annual monsoon ritual that shows no sign of ending.
