MAPUSA
Even as repeated digging of freshly carpeted roads continues to draw public criticism, the much-publicised inter-departmental coordination committee under the Public Works Department (PWD) is yet to become operational.
PWD Superintending Engineer Jude Carvalho confirmed that the committee has already been constituted but is still awaiting commencement.
“The coordination committee has been set up, but it has yet to start functioning. It is expected to begin work very soon,” Carvalho said.
The panel will be headed by the Principal Chief Engineer of PWD and include representatives from key utility departments such as Drinking Water, Electricity, Sewerage, along with telecom service providers. It is envisaged as a mechanism to streamline and regulate road excavation works across agencies.
The proposal for such a body was announced by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in his budget speech, where he underscored the need for better coordination to curb the recurring problem of roads being dug up soon after being resurfaced.
According to the government, the committee will scrutinise and grant approvals for all projects requiring road cutting for laying essential services such as water pipelines, underground cables and telecom infrastructure.
The idea is to ensure that excavation is carried out in a planned and regulated manner, minimising damage to road surfaces and reducing inconvenience to the public.
Officials say that once operational, the panel is expected to act as a single-window system, bringing multiple departments onto a common platform to avoid overlapping work and repeated digging.
