GPCC General Secretary Janardhan Bhandari along with locals of Cancona gheraoed PWD officials demanding hotmixing of road and black listing the erring contractor. They also demonstrated by sleeping on the office floor in the premises of the PWD office at Altinho-Panaji, and warned officials that they will not move from the place unless and until they get concrete solutions to dilapidated roads.
Bhandari said that officials are giving ‘zero response’ to the follow-ups of the road work. “We met all the concerned officers of PWD. But they are not giving any response in regards to completion of the road. They are insensitive, and we submitted memorandum to all, he said.
He demanded that all pending road works on NH 66, including the newly built Manohar Parrikar bypass at Canacona be started.
He said that accidents on Margao-Cancona road have become an almost daily feature. “People are facing health issues due to the bad condition of roads. Many have backbone problems. Hence, I request PWD to either declare the Margao-Cancona road as unsafe to drive or provide ‘stay facility’ to all the people of Cancona in Margao or nearby to work places, to avoid the accidents,’ Bhandari said.
According to Bhandari, PWD had issued the work order to a contractor in October 2021, but the work has not started. “There is zero follow up and communication. This is how the system of PWD works. Officers take bribes from contractors and hence the latter behave how they want by ignoring the work.” He said.
According to Bhandari regular commuters from Canacona to Margao, those who work in Margao and Verna Industrial Estate, have to face hardships due to the bad condition of the highway.