The traffic load over roads has been constantly increasing over time thereby degrading the asphalt layers. The roads in Panjim have been riddled with deep crater-like potholes which at times give a supernatural feeling of driving on the Moon or Mars.
According to official data, about 2000 people were killed in the country last year due to pothole-related accidents. However, there is no data for pothole-caused illnesses like back pain, bodyache, joint pains and the like.
Roads are subject to wear and tear, they develop cracks which over time peel off and form potholes. A vigil on vulnerable stretches of roads can help identify these signs of damage.
A regular maintenance must be done diligently by the authorities. One of the medieval methods of filling the potholes with laterite rubble is still being followed. Such filled potholes open up overnight due to the shoddy work.
Another method is when interlocking pavers are used. The sharp edges of the pavers damage the tyres, and poor-fixing techniques cause the individual pavers to wobble when a vehicle passes over it.
Also, wet concrete is poured into the potholes at night. Due to the absence of signages, a chance passing of a vehicle through this fill creates a deep groove that hardens during the day. Thus we have a pothole within a pothole!
I hope the authorities rethink their approach towards the maintenance of roads.
