Team Goemkarponn
CURCHOREM: In a dramatic escalation of citizen protest, a group of Curchorem residents led by former municipal chairperson Balkrishna Hodarkar, social worker Aditya Dessai, AAP leader James Fernandes, local activist Sushant Vast, and scores of locals have begun a hunger strike outside the old Curchorem municipal building. The demonstrators claim they have been ignored for nearly four years despite repeated appeals for the repair of dangerously pothole-ridden roads. Residents describe the roads as treacherous and hazardous, with stretches turning into rivers or craters every rainy season, putting children, patients, and even ambulances at risk.
Hodarkar, who has long campaigned for road safety in municipal forums, said the protest is not merely about inconvenience but a matter of life and death. In the past, he had used weekly viral videos to highlight the dangerous state of roads, while local councillors had threatened symbolic protests. However, the current hunger strike marks a significant escalation, with participants vowing to continue until visible repair work begins.
Aditya Dessai emphasized that the protest is led by ordinary citizens, not political pawns, adding that repeated letters and calls to officials have yielded no results. James Fernandes of AAP said the strike is also intended to draw state-level attention and pressure the Public Works Department and ministers to act. Local youth volunteer Sushant Vast has been coordinating logistical support, including water, mats, and medical backup, while residents have contributed supplies to sustain the strikers.
Although the protest is in its early stages, it has already drawn media and social media attention, with images of residents holding placards demanding “roads not promises” circulating widely. While the municipal administration has reportedly been approached, officials have only offered vague assurances of surveys and tenders in the near future. A councillor had previously described the roads as “horrible” in 2024, but substantial repairs remain absent.
Medical volunteers have cautioned that prolonged hunger strikes pose serious health risks, especially for older participants and children. Despite this, protesters remain resolute, demanding immediate patchwork on key stretches, comprehensive reconstruction of the worst roads within three months, a transparent timeline with public monitoring, and accountability from officials who failed to deliver promised repairs. They have warned that failure to act may lead to indefinite sit-ins, road blockades, or appeals to higher authorities. As Curchorem residents stake their health for road safety, the city watches whether authorities will respond or let the plea go unheard.
