PANJIM: “For any project, there has to be planning. Today, this road is dug, tomorrow another road. They can install a board informing about the work being carried out. Footpaths are being constructed but is there a plan for their maintenance? Could you put up a display showing how the road will look once constructed? Roads are repaired when VIPs visit the State, otherwise, citizens are left to mend for themselves,” – The Voice of the Ponjekar
These are the actual words of a Panjim resident. It expresses the absolute frustration of the Ponjekar, who thinks that the “Smart city” tag is an absolute joke
With hardly a month left for the 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in the State, but the condition of the roads in the unsmart “smart” city has remained the same since the film festival’s 53rd edition- in a perpetual state of digging.
It’s been seven years since the Smart City Mission was envisioned, but the struggle of the city residents continues as they are forced to do nothing but grumble.
Right from Madhuban Circle at St Inez to the Old Secretariat, the roads have been dug. In some places, they have been dug for laying the sewage pipeline, while in other places it is for the beautification of footpaths.
A worker engaged at St Inez said, “The work includes laying pipes, telephone wires, and a gas pipeline. Three pipelines are to be laid. Right now, only one side of the road has been dug as there is a parking problem. The work is being taken one by one.”
Another worker engaged at Roque D'Souza Road, near the Municipal Garden, said the work which has been taken up includes the beautification of footpaths on both sides of roads from Customs Office Junction to the Immaculate Conception Church.
“Currently the work of beautification of footpaths has been taken up. Sewerage work is yet to be undertaken. We have not received permission for laying pipes,” a work supervisor present at the site said.
The haphazard work and digging of the roads have left citizens fuming.
City resident Shailendra Velingkar, said, “The work under the Smart City is completely in shambles. There is no accountability or responsibility. The MLA and Mayor are pointing fingers at Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited, while the fact is that as a mayor, he is also responsible. Different sections of the society have alleged that the projects are completely scam-ridden.”
“The works are being carried out during the daytime causing obstacles to the vehicles, mainly two-wheeler riders especially senior citizens. It causes accidents. Ponjekars have been left as politically orphaned. The roads are dug at different places in the city, proving there is a lack of coordination among the departments.
Panjim is in a complete mess and complete chaos. Fortunately, the people of Ribandar have stood up and sought accountability and answerability from the authorities. After the death of a worker, the projects are taking a dangerous turn,” he said.
Sanjay Sarmalkar, another resident, alleged that road work at some places is sub-standard and carried out in haste, “Those executing the project must have knowledge of marshy land and low-lying areas. The land in our area is marshy land. Those who do not know about this, what will they do? Substandard work has been done at Vivanta Cross Road in St Inez. When your work is substandard, what will you say? People want the work to be done fast and they are taking advantage of it,” he said.
While Smart City officials do not want to come on record, sources accepted that the work has been delayed and it will take some time to complete them.
“Roads are being dug in phases. Road work was started at Campal last year and that is close to completion now. The same way, other roads will be constructed,’’ an official said.
Recently, Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sanjit Rodrigues accepted that there was some delay in the execution of the Smart City Project and assured to expedite it.
“There is a certain perception of Smart City work which I will not deny. This is the chance given to us to change the perception and we will change it,”' he had told reporters after meeting Ribandar residents who had raised apprehensions that their area too may face the same fate as Panjim.