And the news isn’t getting better for the tourists and the locals alike. The ride is getting bumpier every day and with the progress of monsoon it’s going to get even worse in the coastal village. In some areas like the Holiday Street stretch, there’s no road at all. In most other areas especially on internal stretches, craters of different shapes and sizes dot the roads. From tourists to locals and school children to senior citizens, none have been spared on account of the poor condition of the roads in the popular tourist destination. “Bad roads have been a huge problem in Calangute. In a recent meeting, I pleaded with folded hands with the local MLA to repair the roads on top priority. He had promised to get it done in 24 hours but even after five weeks the condition hasn’t changed,” said Anthony D’Souza, a resident of Calangute. He said the government has no will to act against contractors who execute the
substandard work. The main road from Candolim Ximer to the roundabout near the Jack Sequeira statue has been worst affected. Besides the road near Kamat Holidays Home, Gauravaddo, the road before the
Calangute church and near the Little Flower School and other internal roads have
also been battered badly. “The condition becomes worse in rains as we cannot locate potholes filled with
water. Two days ago I fell with my bike near Kamat Holidays Home,” said Nitesh Chodankar, Vice-President of Rent-a-Cab Association. He further disclosed that he has lifted quite a few tourists, locals and even students who fell while riding trough the pot-holed ridden roads. “Instead of blaming each
other, the authorities should get their act together and repair the roads on top priority,” he opined.
From hoteliers to businessmen and taxi-drivers to two wheeler riders – every segment of the society has
been facing the brunt of the bad roads in the coastal village. “We are losing business because of the bad roads. People take diversion and proceed to Baga from Arpora side,” said Anthony Menezes, an hotelier and former ZP member. He refused to blame any politicians for the messy condition of the roads
but put the onus on PWD. Recently some roads, especially work on the road to Baga was taken up by the
authorities and have been repaired. “The Baga road must have been repaired to benefit the hoteliers. What about the roads leading to schools,” questioned Anthony D’Souza. “I will file a writ petition in the High Court against the horrible condition of roads in Calangute,” D’Souza warned. Deputy Sarpanch of Calangute, Joseph Sequeira admits roads in the constituency have deteriorated because of the ongoing
sewerage works. “We have written numerous letters to various government departments and even
to JICA officials on poor road condition. But none have been able to restore the broken roads,” Sequeira rued. He said the panchayat even met the collector on the issue but without any results. “The collector
told us that the JICA was a time-bound project and she couldn’t stop the ongoing sewerage works,” he added.
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