Colva: The Rs 27.1 crore four-lane Seraulim-Colva road, one of the most expensive roads, once envisioned as a grand boulevard on the lines of New Delhi’s Rajpath, is riddled with potholes barely two years after hot-mixing.The 2km stretch was initially estimated at Rs 16 crore in 2016. In 2018, govt sanctioned an additional Rs 11.1 crore for road dividers, hot-mixing and street lighting, taking the total expenditure to Rs 27.1 crore.Motorists now face potholes at several points, some filled with cement aggregate, leaving uneven and hazardous surfaces, particularly for two-wheelers. The road was also dug up for an LPG pipeline, with excavated portions filled with rubble or concrete.PWD assistant engineer Leslie Colaco said the department would attend to the potholes. He clarified that the PWD had neither filled the potholes nor restored the road-cut portions with concrete. He said the work may have been done by the gasline contractor, as conventional tar work cannot be undertaken during the monsoon.The widened road has also seen a proliferation of unauthorised commercial activity, including food carts, clothing and raincoat vendors, seat-cover shops and vehicle repair garages. Some businesses have allegedly encroached on drains and footpaths, forcing pedestrians close to moving traffic.Vehicles parked outside repair shops further obstruct traffic and add to the road’s growing problems.
