Mapusa-Acoi to Karaswada road stretch continues to be in a bad condition

ARPITA SRIVASTAV | NT

MAPUSA: The ‘busiest’ road stretch between Mapusa-Acoi and Karaswada junction continues to cause hardship to the motorists and riders as the contractor has failed to complete the hot-mix carpeting of it, the work order for which awarded three years ago.

Residents of Acoi, Karaswada and daily commuters from neighbouring villages viz, Thivim, Assonora, Bicholim and Valpoi and also those traveling to neighboring states use this stretch of road between Karaswada junction and the forest check-post at Acoi.

For the last three years, the stretch of road is in a bad condition, following the road widening work undertaken by the Mapusa Municipal Council.

During the monsoon, the road turns into a nightmare for the motorists and riders with large potholes and uneven surface.  After the rains, ‘repairs’ are done to provide some relief to the motorists, but now potholes have resurfaced on the road stretch.

The road stretch technically falls under the jurisdiction of PWD, but was taken over by Mapusa Municipal Council for development utilising municipal funds. Accordingly, Mapusa Municipality  proposed to take up the road widening work along with construction of divider and drains, and the work was awarded following floating of a tender at an estimated cost of Rs 1.8 crore.

Even 50 per cent of the amount that is around Rs 75–80 lakh was given to the contractor to take up the work. The contractor executed the work of road widening, construction of drains and  divider, but did not complete the work of hot-mix carpeting of the stretch, due to which it continues to remain in a bad condition.

A local councillor Sushant Harmalkar said that he has been regularly following up with the contractor and asking him to complete the work.

The chairperson of Mapusa Municipal Council Ryan Braganza said, “We expect the work of hot-mix carpeting tol commence by March 3-4 as assured by the contractor.”