Key Takeaways
- Panjim’s Smart City development has faced delays, with a new completion date set for May 31.
- Around 90% of the work is reportedly finished, but final tasks remain, including road markings and landscaping.
- Road closures in central Panjim will cease after April 1, with ongoing issues on certain roads to be addressed by the state government in fiscal year 2025-26.
Delays Continue in Panjim’s Smart City Project
Residents of Panjim are facing ongoing challenges due to road blockages and construction delays associated with the Smart City works, which have persisted for seven years. Sanjit Rodrigues, CEO of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL), addressed these concerns at a press conference, indicating that the project has missed the High Court-mandated deadline of March 31, and advised stakeholders to “wait until May 31” for completion.
Rodrigues acknowledged that work on the Taad Maad Road near Caculo Mall is still incomplete due to “complexities” that have arisen during the project. He emphasized that he is bound to the schedule set by the court and cannot provide specific completion dates outside the court’s oversight. Employers of smart city initiatives, including those in Panjim, have sought extensions from the Central Government, leading to the March 31 deadline as the final target.
Despite the delays, Rodrigues maintains that most of the construction work is nearly finished, asserting that “90 percent of the work is done.” He explained that tasks remaining include laying bituminous concrete, completing road markings, and installing traffic signage. These final touch-ups are expected to conclude by the end of May.
Rodrigues also announced that after April 1, there will be no further road closures, barricades, or open trenching in the central Panjim area as part of the Smart City initiative. He clarified that any ongoing work would not be related to this project, ensuring that residents can expect fewer disruptions.
Certain local roads, including A B Road, 18 June Road, and Pandurang Pissurlekar Road, are not part of the Smart City Mission due to the presence of central drains, which complicate improvements. The state government has recognized the need for upgrades to these roads and has earmarked funds for them in the 2025-26 fiscal budget.
In Ribandar, both sewage and road works have reportedly been completed, with the final layer of Bituminous Concrete set to begin on April 1, alongside road markings and traffic signage installation, projected for completion by the end of May. Landscaping and tree plantation efforts are planned for June 1 to June 30, 2025, as part of the final project phase.
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