Two weeks ago, Shyam Govekar, a bus driver, staged a desperate protest by sitting in a massive water-filled pothole in front of the Assagao village panchayat, demanding immediate repairs to the Assagao-Mapusa road. Bus drivers have reported that their vehicles have sustained significant damage, with broken panels, malfunctioning gears, and burst tires, pushing them into debt.
Taking serious note of the deteriorating roads, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has warned that PWD engineers will also be held accountable if accidents occur due to potholes.
Over 100 contractors have been issued show-cause notices for substandard work after potholes surfaced on roads they had hot-mixed.
The PWD has now launched an aggressive campaign to repair and patch up these damaged roads using a Jetpatcher machine, taking advantage of the current dry spell across the state.
Citizens have accused the government of using substandard materials in road construction, leading to premature deterioration. The rapid erosion has caused significant inconvenience, with damaged surfaces posing risks to both motorists and pedestrians.
Frustration is growing among citizens over the poor quality of the hot-mixed roads, which have begun to wash away with the first rains.
Notably, several roads across the state, including those in Salcete, were hot-mixed just before the monsoon, and roads leading to the Margao KTC bus stand were resurfaced with a new layer of asphalt.
“The government often announces large amounts spent on development works, but whether these works last through even one monsoon season is evident all around,” said Savio Coutinho, Congress leader and former Margao chairperson.
Coutinho also criticized the recent “Viksit Bharat Viksit Goem” event during the Prime Minister’s visit at Energy Week, stating that roads along the route were not properly hot-mixed, while some roads in good condition were unnecessarily given an additional layer of asphalt.
He claimed that inquiries with the PWD revealed that these works were carried out without following proper procedures, with handpicked contractors receiving work orders on a “nomination basis.” Coutinho alleged that these irregular practices led to substandard work, including roads receiving only a single coat of asphalt instead of the estimated two coats.
Francisco Fernandes highlighted that the hot-mix on roads at Arlem and Manora had already started to wash away, causing major difficulties for commuters. “Due to a lack of streetlights and potholes on these washed-away roads, two-wheeler riders face significant risks,” he said.
In Margao, too, roads have been severely affected by the rains, including those behind the Margao municipal building.
The condition of the two-kilometre road from Undir to Ramnathi has worsened, making it difficult for motorists. This road was dug up for laying sewage and electricity cables.
In Ponda and Madkai, roads were dug up for development works, including laying sewerage networks, underground power cables, and natural gas pipelines. However, not all roads were properly restored, and the condition of many has deteriorated to such an extent that motorists are experiencing bumpy rides on uneven surfaces, with two-wheeler riders suffering accidents that have led to injuries and fractures.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had directed PWD officials to repair and restore roads before the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, emphasising that taxpayers deserve good roads.
Tulshidas Naik, a senior citizen from Bokadbag-Ramnathi, commented, “The two-kilometre stretch of road from Ramnathi to Bandora has gone from bad to worse after it was dug up for sewage and power cables. With more than half of the road’s width dug up, little is left for public use. Accidents have been reported, with many riders now suffering from back pain.”
Another local recalled a tragic incident where a two-wheeler rider died in a self-accident on this pothole-ridden road.
In addition, roads at Kavlem, Talaulim, and Ponda were hot-mixed before the onset of the monsoon but were washed away during the rains, causing hardships for commuters who have complained about the substandard work. The hot-mix work started late due to tenders being delayed by the election code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls. Locals have questioned why the work was done during the monsoon instead of after it subsided. Now, the roads are being repaired using a Jetpatcher machine.
Meanwhile, the Public Works Department has issued a notice to the contractor responsible for substandard hot-mix work from Varkhandem bus stand up to Ponda market. The work done in early June had already been washed away, making the road bumpy and dangerous, resulting in accidents, some of them fatal. If the contractor does not respond to the notice, appropriate action under the relevant clauses of the contract will be taken, according to a PWD official, who added that repair work had commenced on this stretch.
Bandora Sarpanch Ramchandra Naik noted that the road condition from Undir to Ramnathi had deteriorated after it was dug up for sewage and power cables. A fresh tender has already been invited to repair it, and once the monsoon subsides, the road will be hot-mixed and restored.
This year, many villages in Bardez and Pernem taluka are particularly suffering due to bad roads, as the government has taken up the work of laying underground cables, divided into two categories: 11 kV and 33 kV lines. In many villages, where this work is being carried out, the roads are in poor condition. Additionally, the PWD has also dug up roads in some villages, like Assagao and Siolim, to lay underground water pipelines. All of this has led to widespread damage to roads, making them nearly unmotorable.
The contractors responsible for these digging works had no government supervisors from any department, resulting in a lack of accountability and communication with local bodies, leaving residents in a state of despair.
Siolim-Marna Panchayat Village Development Committee (VDC) member Joaquim Barros ridiculed the government departments for acting without any communication with the local panchayat, leaving locals to suffer the consequences.
“The general public, despite paying all taxes, is always at the receiving end. We never benefit in any way. The government hikes bills and road tax rates, but what do we get in return? Is there any improvement in the services the government provides? Roads being dug up is fine, but who is responsible for restoring them? And who is responsible for monsoon casualties due to these pothole-ridden roads? It’s time to fix responsibility on someone and drag contractors to court so they are accountable to the public,” said Barros.
Victor Fernandes, a differently-abled person from Siolim who has to manoeuvre pothole-filled roads during the monsoon to reach his workplace, noted the lack of public concern within both the government and its departments when it comes to providing quality service. He pointed out that the government is quick to extract taxes and punish those who don’t pay on time but questioned who would punish those responsible for damaging the roads.
“Any government that cannot provide good roads, clean water, and reliable electricity—our basic needs—is a complete failure. We should not expect much from such a government. All roads should be pothole-free and motorable by May 15. After that date, no road digging or road works should be taken up. We are a coastal State that always witnesses heavy rainfall. It is foolish to blame the monsoon for the degradation of the roads,” Fernandes said.
Assagao Sarpanch Hanumant Naik, whose village has been severely affected by road digging on both sides of the roads, complained about the lack of communication between government departments and the local panchayat, resulting in the panchayat being blamed for bad roads.
“It is a complete misconception to hold village panchayats responsible for bad roads. Panchayats are responsible for internal roads, which are generally less used, but main roads are the responsibility of the PWD. They cannot shy away from their responsibility. Panchayats don’t have the funds to maintain main roads, nor are we allowed to touch these roads without PWD consent, so people must question the PWD. We are never taken into confidence by these departments, especially under this regime,” Naik said.
The Assagao Sarpanch admitted that it was a nightmare for locals from his village during the monsoon but stated that he was exploring other options to solve the issue, as he feels someone must take the initiative.
Frustrated by the poor road conditions, All Goa Private Bus Owners Association General Secretary Sudip Tamankar expressed the growing difficulty in operating buses on pothole-ridden roads. The bumpy rides are causing frequent tire bursts, punctures, technical snags, and dents to vehicles.
Another significant issue is the increased fuel consumption due to frequent braking on these pothole-ridden roads. “We are suffering revenue loss as we are spending more money on vehicle maintenance while struggling to break even with the dwindling number of passengers,” Tamankar said.
Just a few days ago, Damodar Gawas, a bus owner from Pernem, was injured when his two-wheeler fell into a large water-filled crater near Mapusa. Gawas was returning home after dropping his bus at the KTC bus stand in Mapusa. He sustained multiple injuries and was forced to stay at home, incurring additional medical expenses due to this accident.
Joaquim Fernandes, who was travelling on the Ramnathi-Bandora road, recounted his own experience: “I was lucky to escape with a minor injury after being thrown off my two-wheeler into a pothole. The vehicle sustained damage, and I had to shell out over Rs 20,000 for repairs and medical bills. With no government action in sight, I have been travelling in a bus from home to Margao and back. It is safer, though more expensive.”
Pothole-ridden roads have indeed become a significant cause of concern across Goa, with citizens, commuters, and stakeholders alike questioning the quality of road construction and the accountability of those responsible. The pressing need for durable, safe roads is clear as the monsoon continues to expose the vulnerabilities of the State’s infrastructure.
(Inputs from Marcos Gonsalves, Santosh Naik and Erwin Fonseca)