The incessant and heavy rains in the last few days in the city have submerged many roads, leaving behind a long trail of potholed streets. The newly tarred roads in Bhatlem, Panaji, and other places have deteriorated due to the incessant rains. From crater-like potholes to carelessly strewn gravel, Goa has a handful of infamous roads that pose a threat to commuters. The tar roads naturally deteriorate due to wear and tear from traffic, weather, and other factors. Poor construction material is another reason. A well-designed and well-laid road should last for decades, regardless of traffic flow and local weather conditions.
Due to the rain, the potholes have gotten deeper and bigger. If the contractors did a good job in making roads, this would not be a problem. The Public Works Department shows inefficiency, negligence, and dereliction in carrying out duties related to the construction and maintenance of public roads. Even the government quarters, which come under PWD, are also not maintained properly. The public now refers to PWD as the ‘Public Waste Department’. Citizens should be able to sue the government and PWD over the poor quality of roads. In these issues, the concerned engineers have not exercised proper care, and there is a lack of diligence among contractors. Such engineers should be suspended and fined for inefficiency, lack of responsibility, and wasting public funds on substandard works. It is the common people who have to use these roads, and it is their money that leaks through the potholes.
