Daijiworld Media Network - Calangute

Calangute, Mar 15: A stretch of the Chogm road in Calangute has been dug up again just three days after it was newly hotmixed, triggering anger among commuters and local activists over alleged poor planning.

The road, which runs from the Calangute police station to St Alex Church, was recently resurfaced in the presence of Michael Lobo, MLA of Calangute, and village sarpanch Joseph Sequeira. However, the stretch has now been excavated again to construct a culvert across the busy road.

Criticising the move, Lourenco Silveira, president of the Calangute block committee of the Indian National Congress, called the situation shocking and blamed it on poor planning by the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state.

“This is shocking and typical of the unplanned development taking place in the state. How can a road be dug up just three days after it was hotmixed? This is a complete waste of public money,” Silveira said.

Echoing similar concerns, Manuel Cardozo, convener of the Calangute unit of the Aam Aadmi Party, said residents were stunned by the decision.

“People are unable to believe that the road has been dug up again to build a culvert. There is absolutely no planning,” he said.
Responding to the criticism, sarpanch Sequeira explained that a culvert dating back to the Portuguese era had been overlooked during the roadwork. According to him, the issue came to light only after the road collapsed at that location while the hotmixing work was underway.

“When the hotmixing was in progress, the road at that spot caved in. That is when we realised there was an old culvert there. Since the road collapsed, the Public Works Department decided to repair the culvert,” he said.

The road stretch has reportedly remained closed for nearly a year. During this period, it was first dug up to lay a pipeline and later repaired and excavated multiple times, causing prolonged inconvenience to motorists and local residents