Repair work delayed due to rains, says PWD official
The uneven road stretch leading to the Tar River in Mapusa.
Photo Credits: Agnelo Pereira
MAPUSA
It’s going to be a bumpy ride for Ganpati if pothole riddled roads in Mapusa are not repaired before the Chaturthi festival, which is just a week away.
The two main roads which lead to the immersion site at the Tar River are peppered with potholes at various places.
The downside road, in particular, from Mapusa Urban Bank right up to the Tar River is in very bad shape.
Almost the entire road stretch is filled with large and small potholes, making it difficult for motorists to negotiate the stretch.
Recently, during the Ganesh Chaturthi preparatory meeting, the deputy collector had instructed the PWD (road) and the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) to take steps to repair all the roads.
Besides immersion of Ganesh idols from individual homes, there are at least six Sarvajanik Mandals which immerse the big Ganesh idols in Tar River.
“As large number of people take their idols for immersion in private vehicles it is important to repair the roads and ensure that they are in motorable condition. The presence of potholes could damage the idols while being transported to its destination,” said Tushar Tople, a member of the Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandal, Mapusa market.
An official of the PWD (roads) informed that instructions have been issued to repair all roads that are damaged in the city.
According to the official, hotmixing of roads wasn’t possible because of the rains and therefore work of asphalt patch-up would be undertaken to fill up the potholes.
“The patch up of cut roads and pothole filling work will be taken up on war footing. Instructions have been issued to the contractors to complete the work before Sunday,” the official said.
He said the work was getting hampered since the State was experiencing intermittent showers in the last couple of days.
There is no sign whether the Mapusa civic body will take up a similar repair of internal municipal roads before the Chaturthi.
Mapusa Chairperson Priya Mishal and Vice Chairperson Viraj Phadke did not attend to calls made to them.
