MAPUSA
The deteriorating condition of roads at Arrarim in Saligao has led to a significant disruption in public transportation, causing widespread inconvenience to local residents and students.
Private bus operators have ceased operations along the Calangute-Saligao-Mapusa route due to the treacherous state of the roads.
The roads were dug up by the Water Resources Department (WRD) before the monsoon season to lay water pipelines.
However, the failure to repair them before the rains set in has resulted in large potholes and uneven surfaces, making travel hazardous.
Several large vehicles have gotten stuck due to the depressions in the roads, further highlighting the severity of the issue.
In response to growing concerns, local residents organised a protest to draw attention to the unsafe roads.
Saligao Sarpanch, Lucas Remedios, subsequently wrote to the Assistant Director of Transport, expressing concerns over the private bus operators’ refusal to run their buses on the route.
“With the private bus operators refusing to ply on the route, the public and students face significant inconvenience and hardship in traveling to Mapusa,” Remedios stated, urging the transport department to take immediate action.
Liberata Madeira, a resident of Saligao, confirmed that despite the protests, the situation remains unchanged.
“No buses are plying on the route, leaving all the residents and students of Arrarim in great hardship,” she said.
The poor road conditions are not only affecting students but also motorists who use the route to travel to the Pilerne Industrial Estate, adding to the frustrations of daily commuters.
The situation calls for urgent attention from authorities to restore the roads and alleviate the hardships faced by the community.
