The cave-in of a section of the main road at St Inez on Thursday morning has once again brought the spotlight on the condition of roads in Panaji. The incident has reignited serious concerns among residents. This is not an isolated case. Reports of deep cracks appearing on the stretch from Mala to the KTC bus stand in Patto have further intensified fears that parts of Panaji’s roads are becoming structurally unstable. Over the past few years, Panaji has witnessed continuous excavation under various Smart City initiatives. Roads have repeatedly been dug up and patched. Such repeated excavation weakens the road foundation, especially if proper compaction and engineering standards are not followed during restoration. A major collapse during peak traffic hours can easily result in serious injuries or even fatalities. During the monsoon, the situation becomes even more dangerous as water seepage weakens the soil beneath roads. Smart City projects are supposed to make urban life safer, more efficient and sustainable. The real question is whether the administration will act before the damage becomes irreversible.
