log on to thegoan.net THURSDAY AUGUST 15, 2024 Discover the freedom to grow your wealth! MAHABANK Fixed Deposits EA R N H I G H E R I N T E R EST & E N J OY F I N A N C I A L F R E E D O M 7.15% 666 Days 7.25% 777 Days 0.50% * T&C Apply 7.10% E X T R A FO R S E N I O R C I T I Z E N S WE ARE CLOSED TODAY The offices of THE GOAN will remain closed today (August 15) on account of Independence Day holiday, hence there will be no edition of this newspaper dated August 16, 2024. >> See PG 6 Built in 2001, ‘new’ Costi govt primary school never used, now in neglect WEATHER >> Max: 29 C Min: 27 C Humidity: 82% TIDES Low: High: 12:46 13:25 08:58 18:13 16 pages PRICE ` 10 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO.59 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 PWD engineers accountable for pothole-related mishaps Happy Independence Day 400 Days @thegoanonline CHATURTHI DEADLINE SET TO ELIMINATE POTHOLES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Acting tough, the State government has decided to impose a stringent accountability for PWD road engineers, if accidents are reported due to potholes. The State has set a clear deadline for eliminating potholes from roads by the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, scheduled next month. The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday chaired a crucial meeting with the officials and engineers of Public Works Department (PWD), wherein the directions were issued to the Principal Chief Engineer to issue show COORDINATION & ACCOUNTABILIT Y „„The Chief Minister has directed the Principal Chief Engineer to issue show cause notices to engineers failing to address potholes „„Engineers will be held accountable along with contractors for accidents due to potholes „„They are responsible for ensuring roads are maintained and restored in a timely manner „„Contractors must repair and restore roads within their defect liability period at their own expense, with no additional financial cause notices to the Engineer concerned for failing to act against the contractors to ensure pothole-free roads. “We have already issued show cause notices to over 100 contractors for sub-standard works and now notices would be served to the Engineers from the respective areas,” Sawant told media persons post meeting. Sawant said that clear instructions are issued that if henceforth accident takes place due to potholes then burden on the State „„Over 100 contractors have already received show cause notices for sub-standard work; engineers are now also being targeted for similar notices the Engineers would be held accountable along with the contractor. “It is the duty of the Engineers to see that roads are pothole-free or they are maintained and restored in a >Continued on P7 Shift in Goa travel trend? Fluctuating flight fares for I-Day, long weekend THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As the country celebrates Independence Day today – a holiday – coinciding with a long weekend, domestic flight fares showed a varied trend with indications of a possible shift in holiday preferences. While some routes have wit- nessed a sharp rise in prices, others have seen a significant drop. On the Goa to Bangalore route, fares have seen a steady increase. The tickets started at Rs 2,186 on the eve of Independence Day with a slight rise to Rs 2,492 on Independence Day. However, the weekend has brought a surge as fares reach Rs 4,396 on Saturday and peak at Rs 8,416 on Sunday. In contrast, the Bangalore to Goa route is showing a reverse trend. Prices on Wednesday were around Rs 7,000 with a slight dip to Rs 6,200 on Independence Day. Interestingly, as the weekend approaches, fares plummet to as low as Rs 2,000 – a not-sogood indication for Goa. The Delhi to Goa route is also experiencing a decline in fares as the weekend approaches. Priced at Rs 9,000 on Wednesday, tickets drop to Rs 7,000 on Independence Day with the weekend seeing >Continued on P7