Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: In a bid to curb frequent road cutting, the Goa PWD department is planning to provide utility-carrying ducts of adequate size all along the roadsides to accommodate all the utility service lines to come in the future.
PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral said, “In order to have a permanent solution for frequent cutting of roads, it is proposed to provide utility carrying ducts of adequate size all along the roadsides to accommodate all the utility service lines to come in the future, provided sufficient land is available, which is presently done for Panjim Smart City and near corridors of National Highways.”
Cabral said this in a written reply to Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar’s question on whether the Government has any control over the frequent digging of road sites for different purposes like laying of pipelines and cables.
He said, “prior permission from Public Works Department is required to be obtained for laying of utilities/ OFC/ etc.; after the deposit of advance fees unless exempted for Govt. Departments.”
Cabral said that most of the utilities in Goa are laid within the available land width of Govt.
“It does cause inconvenience to the public at large, but considering long-term infrastructure like electricity, water supply, gas line and telecommunication is a need of the hour,” he said.
Cabral informed that the work is taken up coordination in most cases.
“Potholes repair is carried through JetPatcher, which carries a 18-month defect liability after the completion of the works and reinstatement of road stretches due to laying of utilities/ OFC/ etc. are taken up by the department for restoration of stretches,” he said.
Asked whether it is possible to have relaxation of traffic challans on such incomplete roads, since civilians deserve safe roads, Cabral replied, there is no such provision under the Motor Vehicle Act/ Rules for relaxation in respect of traffic challans as informed by Superintendent of Police (L & V), Panjim.
