Key Takeaways
- The Smart City Mission, aimed at creating 100 Smart Cities, is set to end on March 31, 2025, following multiple extensions.
- Panjim, one of the selected cities, is struggling to complete essential infrastructure projects, raising concerns about accountability and funding.
Ongoing Challenges for Smart City Projects
The Smart City Mission, launched in 2015 with the objective of establishing 100 Smart Cities, is approaching its planned conclusion on March 31, 2025. The initiative has faced significant delays, prompting the Central Government to extend deadlines three times, with the latest extension set for March 2025.
Panjim was among the cities chosen for this mission, but it is now at risk of not meeting the completion requirements. Although initially granted a five-year timeframe to finalize projects, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs extended this to 2024, only to push it further to 2025. A Parliamentary Standing Committee report has indicated that states may need to finance their incomplete projects, though it remains unclear if the Central Government will support them financially or utilize the Rs 48,000 crores in pending approvals.
Currently, Panjim is behind on various critical projects, including sanitation, smart mobility, and smart governance. Some initiatives, like the Integrated Command and Control Centres, have faced significant delays. As of now, only the roadworks are expected to be completed by the March 31, 2025 deadline, while other infrastructure components, including gutters, footpaths, and beautification efforts, are not scheduled until May 31, 2025. No deadlines have been set for sanitation and smart mobility projects, raising further concerns about the overall effectiveness of the Smart City initiative.
Many of the city’s roads remain incomplete, albeit motorable. Specific problem areas include the Taleigao-St Inez junction and the 18th June Road near the Goa College of Pharmacy, which face unsafe conditions and clutter from construction debris. One road, critical for traffic, is completely closed for work, which will not be finished by the approaching deadline.
Despite the financial investment in these projects, residents are questioning the actual improvements. Observers note that the quality of completed roadworks is lackluster and inadequate, leading to speculation on whether Panjim will genuinely become a Smart City. With the Goa Assembly Election in 2027 approaching, the voters will need to consider the effectiveness of the Smart City Mission and potential accountability for ongoing delays and concerns.
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