MAPUSA
A day after the Congress staged a protest at the Public Works Department (PWD) office in Mapusa over the poor condition of roads in Saligao, local MLA Kedar Naik assured that repair works on the main Saligao stretches have begun and will be completed within the next five days.
Naik attributed the delay in road repairs to the early onset of the monsoon, which he said disrupted ongoing pre-monsoon works across the State.
“Due to the unexpected rains, several road works in different parts of Goa had to be held up. But we had already initiated the process of concreting the road even before the Congress held its morcha,” Naik told reporters on Friday.
Reiterating his commitment to resolving public grievances, Naik said that the local panchayat is actively coordinating with the PWD to expedite the repairs.
“My staff is on the ground, closely monitoring the progress of the work. We are responsible and fully aware of the difficulties people are facing,” he said.
Naik stated that temporary repair work, including the installation of pavers, will be carried out to ensure that commuters and motorists are not inconvenienced during the rains.
“This is a stop-gap arrangement to provide relief during the monsoon. Once the rainy season is over, we will undertake proper hotmixing of the roads,” he added.
The MLA also revealed that the ongoing excavation of roads is due to the laying of underground water pipelines and power lines – a part of broader infrastructure development.
“We understand that developmental work can cause temporary disruptions. But these are necessary steps to improve civic amenities in the long term,” he said.
The stretch from Lourdes Convent School has been identified as a priority for the sake of students and will be taken up first, Naik confirmed.
On Thursday, Congress workers led by North Goa District President Virendra Shirodkar stormed the PWD Executive Engineer’s office in Mapusa, demanding immediate repair of roads and submitting a memorandum highlighting the unsafe and neglected condition of several key stretches in the constituency.
A minor scuffle was reported during the protest, with Shirodkar’s shirt torn in the melee.
Despite the political heat, Naik maintained that development remains the focus.
“Our aim is not to inconvenience the public, but to work for their benefit. We are doing our best to ensure that issues are addressed promptly,” he said.
