The Balli-Gulem NH66 road continues to be in a pathetic state

Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA: With just less than a week left for the Ganesh Chathurthi festival, the officials of the National Highway (NH) from Balli to Gulem in Canacona, inspite of complaints from locals, have not even bothered to cover the washed out patches of the road leaving it in a most deplorable state.
The NH66 road stretch from Balli in Quepem up to Gulem in Canacona since last more than six months is in a pathetic condition, and the NH66 officials didn’t even make an attempt to cover the potholes which have attained the size of craters at some places complained the regular commuters on this stretch.
The Balli-Gulem NH66 stretch, which is about 15km long, is the most affected, and the washing away of asphalted portions have left the road unmotorable.
Concerned citizens speaking to Goemkarponn said that the Ganesh Chathurthi festival is a few days away, and thousands will be using this road to go to their native places in Canacona and north Karnataka for the festival, most of them are also aged, their journey will be horrendous, to say the least, they said.
Sources at NH66 informed that due to incessant rains, they could not commence the patching of the potholes. Still, regular commuters countered that argument saying that rains in monsoon are not new to the state.
The PWD officials concerned with this stretch of road are lethargic in their approach. They have not shown any interest in maintaining this stretch in a motorable condition they complained about.
“The stretch of the road between Balli and Gulem is under the control of PWD, having its office in Canacona, but the condition of the road leaves us wondering whether the National Highways has closed down its office in Canacona! Exclaimed a regular commuter from Canacona.
“The authorities at least had to take up covering the potholes with asphalt which would have given some solace to the commuters for the Ganesh Chathurthi but it looks they are not interested in providing safe and motorable roads to the public” informed Anil Bhagat a senior citizen, from Canacona.
“The road at Balli junction, Balli Hospital, Khaddem, Padi, Barcem, entire Karmalghat present a pathetic picture with bitumen cover almost absent on the carriageway, this is unacceptable” Bhagat expressed.