The 13th State Road Safety Week was inaugurated on Monday at Don Bosco High School, Panaji. While the increase in the number of road accidents in the state have been attributed to various reasons, it is believed that one of the primary causes is potholed roads. A couple of days back the Centre has asked the Goa government to use white-topping technology for the rehabilitation of highways that were laid many years ago. White-topping technology allows roads to be resurfaced with a concrete overlay over the existing road, extending the life of the road by another 20 to 25 years. White-topping surfaces are less susceptible to cracking, and other forms of damage, leading to lower maintenance costs over time. They provide better skid resistance thereby enhancing safety for drivers. Though the initial cost will be rather high, the longevity of the surface will be more than the bituminous roads. It is learnt that while the Goa Industrial Development Corporation has already decided to implement white-topping of roads in its jurisdiction, the PWD has reportedly been exploring the option.
