From Sanjay Borkar in Belgaum
for Daijiworld Media Network - Goa  (MB)

Belgaum, March 9: National Highway 4-A, proceeding from Anmod Ghat, Karnataka to Tinuy Ghat, Karnataka on the way to Belguam, the state of the road of about 16 KM distance is a real spectacle to see and horrible experience to go through, with potholes formed at every short distance.

The tyres of buses and trucks go deep into these potholes as they move and as a result they take inordinately longer time to reach their destination.

It is no surprise then, to cover this 16-km distance, heavy vehicles take around 1.30 hour instead of 30 minutes. Of course, if small cars are driven on this road, they not only are not able to cover the distance, but are also sure to get stuck in the potholes.

It is said that the situation has been created by a large number of trucks laden with iron ore make several trips every day. During the last rains, the road got almost washed away. It is virtually impossible to find even a bit of tar left on this 16-km stretch.

Hundreds of Goans travel to KLE hospital in Belgaum for medical treatment. But because of the roads, they tend to have second thoughts.

Two years back, this road was in a good condition, but ever since it has gradually deteriorated. This correspondent and colleagues found it very difficult to travel to Goa by this road, being Goa-based they had no alternative to travelling back.

Earlier a Kadamba Transport bus of Goa would take three hours to cover the Goa-Belgaum journey. But now it needs four-and-a-half hours.

"Politicians promise us roads, health, education, but our roads are in bad condition," said Rajendra Patil, a native of Belgaum who works in Goa, who pays a weekend visit to his village.

Over the last two years, people have been demanding hot-mix layering of the roads, but their demands have not been met.