Key Takeaways
- Major road projects under the Smart City Mission remain incomplete, causing significant traffic issues in Panjim.
- Work on essential roads is stalled due to monsoon delays and planned sewerage work, leading to public frustration.
- Progress on other Smart City initiatives is mixed, with delays in landscaping and community market developments affecting overall satisfaction.
Infrastructural Delays and Public Frustration
Despite the claim that key infrastructure projects under the Smart City Mission in Panjim are nearing completion, daily commuters face a different reality. The condition of several major roads is poor, leading to significant frustrations among residents and business owners. Four critical roads—18th June Road, Atmaram Borkar Road, Dr Pandurang Pissurlekar Road, and Rua de Ourem Road—remain incomplete, severely impacting traffic flow and pedestrian accessibility.
The primary reasons for the delays include the onset of monsoon rains and complications from upcoming sewerage work by the Sewerage and Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa (SIDCGL). An official from Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) stated that work on some of the roads is set to resume after the IPSCDL board grants clearance. However, Rua de Ourem Road will see progress only after SIDCGL’s interventions conclude.
There has been no funding shortfall; the focus is on completing ongoing projects before starting new ones. This prolonged stagnation has led to increasing public discontent. The current state of incomplete roads poses hazards for both vehicles and pedestrians, resulting in traffic jams, inadequate lighting, and unsafe footpaths. A local shop owner expressed disappointment in the lack of progress, stating that the hope for improvements by the end of the monsoon remains unfulfilled.
While other Smart City initiatives continue at varying paces, road conditions substantially undermine the project’s credibility. As per official estimates, approximately 87% of the Pedestrian Spine and Revitalisation of the Patto area has been completed. Additional projects, such as a Ground Level Service Reservoir and an Overhead Reservoir, are nearing completion. Nonetheless, significant delays in soft landscaping and the Ribandar Community Market development continue to raise concerns.
To address these inefficiencies, the Union government has encouraged states to empower Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to charge fees for implementing projects, aiming to enhance their financial and operational autonomy. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has also recommended integrating SPVs and Integrated Command and Control Centres into long-term governance frameworks to sustain the benefits of the Smart City Mission.
Public pressure from opposition parties, notably the Aam Aadmi Party’s “BJPche Burak” campaign, prompted some recent repairs using jet patching on potholes. However, residents are looking for permanent solutions to the longstanding issues plaguing Panjim’s roads.
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