The nightmare on Porvorim Road has become a daily talking point for Goenkars and tourists alike. Traffic jams stem from insufficient road capacity and poor planning”compounded by a culture of waiting for ministerial directions instead of proactive engineering.
A glaring example is the single-lane pinch near RG Hospital on the Panaji“Porvorim“Saligao“Mapusa route: a busy stretch reduced so vehicles must squeeze through one lane. Why can’t engineers widen that section by reclaiming a footpath or reconfiguring lane usage to allow two-way flow?
Short-term fixes and pilot options should be tried now to ease congestion before next year. Well-intentioned slogans like “today’s pain is tomorrow’s gain” ring hollow when planning delays cause accidents, hospital visits, and vehicle damage.
Until planners act decisively and engineers apply their skills, commuters will keep paying the price for inaction. Residents demand accountability, measurable short-term improvements, and transparent timelines ” not slogans ” from PWD, elected officials, and contractors, and immediate action.
