MONDAY, JULY 01, 2024
FREDDY FERNANDES
PANJIM: After the officially proclaimed May 31, 2024, deadline for completion of Smart City works went up in smoke, yet another deadline of June 10 was declared for completion of the Caculo Mall to Sewage Treatment Plant, Tonca stretch. Will Panjimites be able to heave a sigh of relief come June 10?
Ponjekar’s have to gear up for severe hardships during the coming monsoon, since the Smart City works are much behind deadlines - the new June 10 deadline.
Many feel that like the exit polls conducted before the counting of votes for the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, Smart City deadlines are way off the mark.
O Heraldo walked around the city to find that the footpaths, drains and laying of service lines are all in a mess, which will lead to severe flooding and a harrowing time for people. But the road works at Caculo Mall circle, the footpaths up to Sewage Treatment Plant, Tonca, and the footpath and drain works by the St Inez to Crematorium road, don’t look to be in any state to be complete in two days.
And the rains have started
“The monsoon has not started with full flourish. But even if it rains heavily for two hours, people can face dire consequences, including flooding of the roads,” former mayor Uday Madkaikar warned. “Everyone knew that the May 31 deadline would not be met. Although they extended the deadline by 10 days, the junction at Caculo Mall is still not completed. That may take another eight days. The concreting work is on, but curing will take some time. I’m sure they will not be able to do the drains and footpath work during the monsoon.”
He contended that the work may be halted for about three months and may start only after the rains. “Even the work from Caculo Mall to STP, Tonca will take time. I think that all the Smart City works will be completed only by May 31, 2025,” Madkaikar said.
The former mayor and councillor said, “There are points where Panjim always gets flooded, and with Smart City works the situation can get worse.”
The Smart City works at Ribandar area have been completed. But Shivanand, a motorcycle taxi operator said that the roads are not properly tarred.
“We have lost customers. People do not wish to hire motorcycles since the Ribandar patched up road is bumpy,” Shivanand said.
Ponjekars better gear up for a tough ride and calm nerves on the city roads this monsoon.
Smart city offers more promises and denials
Eduardo Pereira, Chief General Manager, IPSCDL
On the completion of Caculo Mall to STP stretch
“We are attempting to complete the works. Friday night we are concretising the Caculo Mall junction with pavement quality cement. This will allow free movement of traffic. The only stretch which is left is the Caculo Mall to Tad-Mad Shrine which is a 150-metre stretch.”
On mud piles outside shops and homes
“I know about it. It will be removed immediately.
On incomplete work on drains, footpaths and laying of sewer lines in St Inez - Hotel Sheetal junction to Caculo Mall and to the crematorium
“The drains are done. Only the ancillary works such as footpaths and laying of service lines are going on side by side. But these will not affect traffic and there would be flooding in the area.”
