MAPUSA
With less than a week remaining before households across the State welcome Lord Ganesha, authorities are racing against time to repair potholes and fix the deteriorating roads.
Road contractors have been assigned the daunting task of ensuring that the State’s infrastructure is ready for the festival, but relentless rains are turning this already challenging mission into an almost impossible feat.
In the recently concluded monsoon session of the State Assembly on August 7, the government issued a clear directive: all roads must be pothole-free before the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
This mandate has significantly intensified pressure on the Public Works Department (PWD) and the road contractors.
Show-cause notices were issued to several contractors where roads were found to be in a particularly poor state, signalling the government's serious intent to have the work completed on time.
While many contractors have commenced repairs, the unyielding rains have repeatedly undone their efforts.
For instance, about 70 to 80 per cent of the pothole repair work along National Highways has been completed, yet the situation is far less optimistic for Major District Roads (MDRs) that traverse many of the State’s towns and villages. Here, contractors are struggling to make any significant headway due to the persistent wet weather.
“After issuing show-cause notices, the contractors have begun work to repair the roads. Continuous rain acts as a dampener, but they have done some patchwork and are expected to complete most of the work before Chaturthi,” said Uttam Parsekar, Principal Chief Engineer of the PWD.
Road conditions:
A grim picture
The challenges are evident across the State. The main road from Usgao to Ponda, which was repaired only five days ago, has already reverted to its previously poor condition, highlighting the shoddy quality of the repair work and the obstacles posed by the rains.
The road at Barazan, Usgao, is in a worse state than before the repairs, exposing the difficulties contractors face in trying to meet the government’s deadline.
Similarly, the road from Cuncolim market to Quepem is riddled with potholes, making it a herculean task to fix before the Ganesha festival unless the rains relent.
Other areas, including Guirim, Mapusa, Anjuna, Vagator, and the Calangute-Candolim coastal belt, are still awaiting much-needed attention as authorities struggle to patch up potholes.
In many places, repairs completed using the jet-patcher machine have been washed away by subsequent rainfall, leaving motorists and pedestrians to navigate hazardous conditions.
The surge in potholes has significantly slowed traffic, causing long queues and frustrating delays.
“These potholes have actually turned into speed breakers, slowing down traffic,” a motorist quipped, capturing the frustration of many commuters.
Hope amidst
the struggle
The primary challenge faced by contractors is the unrelenting rain. Even when potholes are patched, the repairs often fail as the rain washes away the fresh tar. Additionally, the continuous flow of traffic makes it difficult for repairs to set and adhere properly to the road surface.
During the rainy season, contractors typically use cold emulsion (tar) to fill potholes, which is designed to adhere better to wet surfaces. However, for the tar to hold, there needs to be at least 8 to 10 hours without rain.
According to a senior PWD engineer, continuous rain severely hampers their efforts.
“Even covering the potholes with cement requires at least 24 hours of dry weather, or it gets washed away. The constant movement of traffic only adds to the problem, as it can erase patchwork before it has a chance to set,” the engineer explained.
Despite these significant challenges, PWD officials remain cautiously optimistic.
They believe that, given a stretch of five to six dry days, most of the roads could be made pothole-free before the festival.
“If we get another five to six days of dry spell, we will complete the removal of potholes. We are trying to get the job done before Chaturthi. It’s possible. We can do it,” asserted Allen Pereira, Chief Engineer of PWD National Highways, when questioned about the practicality of achieving the government’s ambitious goal.
As the clock ticks down to the Ganesha festival, the State waits with bated breath, hoping for a dry spell that would allow road repairs to be completed, ensuring a safer and smoother celebration for all.
