PANAJI
It's more than just water-logging of the roads from the current, nearly week-long spell of intense and continuous rains that is causing much pain to both residents and daily visitors to the capital city.
Several stretches of the city's road network, including many which had been hurriedly relaid with a fresh carpet of hot-mix following the completion of the 'smart city' are peeling off, leaving a trail of pot-holes much to the chagrin of vehicle users.
In late May and early June, several stretches of the city's roads were redone with a fresh layer of tarmac. One such stretch of road at Bhatulem -- from TB Hospital to the Portais Chapel -- has developed pot-holes in at least half-a-dozen locations, less than a month into the monsoon. This busy road poses hurdles and challenges to vehicle users.
In the city, roads in the market area, along 18th June Road and also the MG Road are all ridden with potholes. Also at regular distances, these roads have humps and depressions where chamber manholes of the 'smart city' sewerage project are located making driving four-wheeler or riding bikes a harrowing experience.
Several stretches of the roads in the Fontainhas and Mala-Portais area too are in a similar pathetic condition with depressions, potholes and mounds around the manholes of the newly built sewerage chambers visible everywhere.
PEDESTRAINS
FACE BRUNT
It's not just the motorists that are at the receiving end in the capital city. Pedestrians and senior citizens too are facing the brunt with pavements taken up for re-design under 'Smart City' projects are incomplete across the city making them dangerous to walk on.
Officials of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development had said when they wound up work on all the projects in May-June, work would carry on to complete the footpaths but interlocking tiles lie piled up along the unfinished pavements and all work has come to a grinding halt.
Meanwhile, under fire from critics, local MLA and Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, besides his mayor-son Rohit Monserrate, both acknowledged the poor condition of the capital city's roads, attributing it to the recent heavy rains.
The CCP does try to make amends, with mayor Rohit claiming that the workforce is on the job filling pot-holes with a rubble and metal mix but Monserrate senior admitted it is only temporary and a futile exercise as more rain washes it off in a few days .
The capital's legislator emphasized that the current condition of the roads is solely because of the kind of rain experienced over the last few days and the damage can now be assessed to make the necessary rectifications only after the monsoon.
