The Bombay High Court at Goa has disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the issue of potholes on roads and highways in the State of Goa.
D.J. Pangam, Advocate General, apprised the Court that in compliance with such orders, the issue of potholes has been substantially addressed.
The Advocate General also stated that this issue of repair of potholes is a continuous process and the State and its agencies are committed to address the same on a continuous basis.
He added that for the last one year, a practice has evolved where the concerned authorities addressed citizens’ complaints on potholes.
He pointed out that usually, the citizens take a picture of the pothole and send it to the concerned engineers. The engineers then attend such complaints. He states that this practice will be continued.
The concerned authorities/engineers are directed by the Division Bench of Justice M. S. Sonak and Justice Bharat P. Deshpande to act consistent with the statement made by the Advocate General before the High Court.
G. Panandikar, Amicus Curiae has handed in written submissions dated December 5, 2022, wherein he has referred to some five stretches.
The Advocate General stated that these matters will also be looked into by the concerned authorities and necessary action taken to see that the potholes, if any, are repaired.
Now that the issue has been adequately addressed and the Advocate General on behalf of the State has assured the High Court that the process of attending and repairing of potholes would be undertaken on a continuous basis, the Court sees no necessity to keep this petition pending any longer. Accordingly, the High Court disposed of the petition.