BY ROQUE DIAS|NT NETWORK

RAIA: It will be three years since the Public Works Department (PWD) undertook to widen the nearly eight-kilometer-long stretch from Arlem to Borim. The purpose was to convert the existing road into a four lane road, by demolishing the existing structures on either side.

Interestingly, in three long years, the PWD have just managed to complete just a three kilometer stretch from Arlem junction to Raia Uzro, with the erection of concrete dividers and green spaces. The remaining portion is yet to be completed.

The locals of Arlem, Raia recall how their houses, sheds and other structures were razed to the ground in the mid-monsoon season in 2007, mercilessly by the PWD, to develop the road, despite requests to keep the order in abeyance till the rains subside. "The same PWD is now moving at a snail’s pace to develop the road. Today, we can plainly say that the urgency shown by the PWD while razing our structures, three years ago was nothing but a farce, else they would have not delayed so much,’’ fumes an Arlem resident questioning further that if work on an eight kilometer road takes nearly 3 years, how long would the new proposed highway take?

The officials concerned attribute the delay to a number of reasons. Some of the reasons being an improper tendering process, need to repair old drainages, construct new drainages, shifting of water pipes and electric poles.

Officials, including engineers of PWD, Mr Anil Ringne, and Mr Amstrong Fernandes informed that the construction work on the road has been divided into three phases and that the first phase has been completed. The second phase that is work on the stretch from Uzro-Raia to Ambora will be completed in the next six months. They informed that the tender process for the second phase for hot mixing of the road is also completed and will be started soon after the monsoon.

It was further informed that the required width of the road for the four lane should be of 22 mts, however sources opine that at some places, the width is comparatively less albeit within the minimum levels.

Locals allege that the PWD acted in a biased manner while widening the road. Many say at several places, the width of the road was decreased so as not to acquire land of influential persons.

Another woe of the residents is that, "The widened portion of the road has developed pot holes and is a risk for vehicles. With the monsoon showers, the pot holes are filled with water and during the night, it is really tough to travel on this road," says a resident of Raia Tembi. Residents narrate their ordeal at how much of inconvenience was created as a result of the slow pace of work on the road. They saw 19 accidents because of what they call the "faulty procedures followed by the PWD and the traffic police."

"They (PWD) erected dividers but no indicators or lamps were put so as to guide road users and as a result, vehicle riders banged into these dividers. The traffic police also failed to install sign boards or glowing indicators," recall the Arlem residents.

The angry villagers than met the local MLA, Mr Reginald Lourenco and with his efforts, the dividers were removed and sign boards were put which helped to decrease such accidents.

"We will be planting trees in these pot holes, as a sign of protest, if they are not repaired immediately," said a Raia- Tembi resident. According to him, the road was of made using sub-standard material which has resulted in the road developing pot holes.

Another Ambora resident claims that the PWD failed to construct a retaining wall before commencing work on the road widening.

What the PWD did was, just the opposite. They constructed the widening portion of the road and later built the retaining wall, which by that time, the mud had already flown into the nearby paddy fields and the Kazan lands. The locals and those residing close to vicinity of the highway are aghast at the PWD contactors’ act.

The Local MLA, Mr Alex Reginaldo Lourenco, when contacted for his comment, said that the problem faced by the locals were identified and solved. "However they may be problems pertaining to the highway, but I assure you that within the next year, all this problems will be certainly solved,’’ assured Mr Lourenco.

The local sarpanch, Mr Savio Gomes, pointed out that there is no walkway for pedestrians. He says, "The road is very dangerous for pedestrians to travel. Since, it is a highway, vehicles zoom at a very high speed thereby increasing the risk."

The Camorlim Sarpanch, Mr Basilio Fernandes, in whose jurisdiction a portion of the road falls (second phase area) said the PWD failed to construct the retaining wall in the field before going ahead with the road work. He says, "It is sad that the PWD, till date did not give any compensation to those who lost their land for the road in the Camorlim area. It was because of the goodwill of these agricultural land owners that the PWD could go easily go ahead with plans of widening the road,"
Mr Fernandes said.

He also pointed out that there were complains from the farmers that the mud dumped to construct the road, has seeped into the fields and has damaged crops. "I am of the opinion, that the PWD engineers should have studied the village and its topography, take the locals and panchas into confidence and then only proceed with the work. That would not only saved the time of the PWD, but also expenditure,’’ opines the two time sarpanch, Mr Fernandes.

He also disclosed that the PWD had not even designed the road coming under the PWD’s third phase which is from Ambora to Borim.