The patchwork repairs carried out on Panaji’s pothole-ridden roads may offer temporary relief, but they fail to address the larger issue of accountability. Year after year, citizens are subjected to the same story — roads that fall apart with the first heavy rains and hurried patch-ups just before a festival. This cycle reflects poorly on the seriousness of our authorities.
The Public Works Department and the Corporation of the City of Panaji cannot continue to treat basic road safety as a seasonal exercise. Roads are not merely a matter of convenience; they are a matter of life and death. As AAP rightly pointed out, accidents have already claimed lives. It should not take political protests for the government to act on what is its fundamental responsibility.
We do not need cosmetic fixes that wash away with the next downpour. What Panaji deserves is long-lasting, quality roadwork planned well in advance. Citizens pay taxes with the expectation of safe infrastructure. If the government is confident about its work, let it place guarantees on quality and durability. Otherwise, these patch-ups are nothing but a temporary cover-up of negligence.
