Seraulim Commuters Struggle as Bypass Remains Shut for Months, Amid Monsoon Rains
Frequent flooding has once again submerged the Seraulim bypass, rendering it inaccessible and cutting off local road connectivity for yet another monsoon season. The bypass, situated in a low-lying area, remains closed for nearly six months each year, disrupting travel and damaging nearby agricultural fields. Despite past inspections by multiple authorities, residents continue to wait for a lasting solution, as illegal garbage dumping worsens the drainage woes and delays road recovery.
The Seraulim bypass, an essential link for residents and travellers near Benaulim, has once again gone under water. Located in a low-lying zone, the road has developed a pattern of remaining submerged during the monsoon, causing it to be shut for nearly half the year. The waterlogging not only inconveniences commuters but also affects local farmlands that are unable to drain due to blocked canals and soil saturation. Residents point to illegal garbage dumping as a significant contributor to the ongoing drainage problems, with mounds of waste choking already inadequate channels. The worsening state of the bypass highlights deeper issues in regional stormwater planning and maintenance. Locals say the repeated neglect, despite frequent complaints, has turned a once-promising bypass into a seasonal hazard. The road closure also forces longer detours for vehicles, burdening neighbouring routes with congestion and increasing fuel costs for daily commuters.
While the flooding of the Seraulim bypass is not new, the absence of meaningful intervention has led to mounting frustration among residents. Officials, including local representatives and railway authorities, inspected the flooded area earlier this year, promising drainage upgrades and long-term solutions. However, no action has followed. Experts argue that the lack of basic flood-resilient infrastructure such as culverts, raised roads, and solid waste management is at the heart of the recurring issue. With garbage dumped along the shoulders of the bypass, rainwater has nowhere to go, resulting in widespread stagnation. Farmers from nearby fields also report losses during every monsoon due to water seepage and drainage failure. Calls for urgent dredging, garbage clearance, and installation of flood-resistant road designs have been repeatedly made but remain unaddressed. The bypass, intended to decongest inner village lanes, now contributes to bottlenecks, detours, and heightened flood risk for the community.
As yet another monsoon floods the Seraulim bypass, residents are left to navigate detours and endure long-standing infrastructural neglect. The persistent closure of the road year after year, compounded by illegal waste dumping and failed drainage systems, points to a critical lack of planning and execution. Without timely interventions such as clearing of stormwater paths, waste management enforcement, and elevation of the bypass road, locals fear the issue will only worsen. For a community that depends on this link for daily movement and agricultural activity, the delay in action feels more like abandonment than oversight.
