The rains in Goa have once again exposed the poor condition of our roads. Potholes and damaged stretches have reappeared, making daily travel difficult. The large number of potholes on Goan roads has triggered strong criticism from the public and commuters. Many city roads seem to be built without proper planning, resulting in uneven surfaces and weak construction that breaks apart after rainfall. In Patto, poor drainage and overflowing drains have caused water-logged roads.
The overall quality of roadwork clearly shows how little value the PWD places on taxpayers’ money. Water remains the biggest enemy of roads. Instead of sloping outwards to drain rainwater, many roads are built with a higher centre and lower edges, causing water to seep into the layers and weaken them.
Experts say that using plastic instead of bitumen helps in such conditions. In 2015, the Supreme Court had directed that 8–10% of the hot mix used in road construction should contain plastic, but this is followed only on national highways.
In cities, contractors are not required to do so, which makes things worse. Bad roads have become a regular topic of frustration. In India, potholes seem to be a permanent problem. We may manage to reduce poverty, but corruption and potholes continue to remain. Roads were already in poor shape — now, after the rains, it feels like we’re driving through a minefield.
