MAPUSA
The onset of the monsoon season has laid bare the deplorable state of roads in Mapusa, a bustling commercial town in North Goa, exacerbating the woes of pedestrians and motorists alike.
As heavy rains poured down, several thoroughfares across the town revealed a landscape dotted with potholes, making navigation a treacherous endeavour for the town's residents.
The situation is particularly dire on roads left unrepaired due to ongoing power cabling works, which have further deteriorated, creating significant inconvenience for citizens.
In the Khorlim area, roads are relatively better maintained, but the majority of routes in Angod, Gaunsavaddo and Peddem present a stark contrast, being in an abysmal state.
Roads in these areas are marred with potholes, and in some sections, the damage is so severe that the roads have become nearly unmotorable.
The situation in Gaunsavaddo is especially critical, where roads dug up for laying underground cables and sewerage connections were never repaired, leading to hazardous potholes.
Motorists find it particularly challenging to navigate these roads, with the narrow width compounding the difficulty for both pedestrians and vehicles.
One particularly troublesome stretch of road suffers from poor drainage, resulting in rainwater accumulating in the middle of the road and causing significant inconvenience.
Former councillor Deepak Mhadeshri has openly criticized the current councillor, Prakash Bhivshet, accusing him of neglecting his duties.
"It's the fault of our councillor who has failed to discharge his duties as a responsible elected representative of the ward. It’s surprising that despite supporting the ruling group in the council, the councillor is unable to meet the expectations of the people," Mhadeshri stated.
He further added that during his tenure as councillor, he managed to complete all necessary works despite being in the opposition.
In Angod, the condition of the roads is similarly grim.
Roads that were excavated for underground power cabling remain unrepaired, despite multiple reminders from concerned locals to the Public Works Department (PWD). These roads have developed deep trenches due to cuts made at several spots, creating significant hazards for motorists and pedestrians.
The recent rains have worsened the condition of several other roads in the area, adding to the distress of the local populace.
With the heavy monsoon season expected to continue for the next three months, there are growing concerns that the road conditions will deteriorate further, causing even more hardship for residents and commuters.
The urgent need for road repairs is clear, but as of now, residents can only hope that the authorities will take swift action to address these issues and restore safe and navigable roads in Mapusa.
