PANJIM: Even after violating several deadlines, the Caculo Mall-Tonca culvert road was finally thrown open to the public on Friday, on the occasion of Vat Purnima. The reality is – the throwing open of an incomplete road is a big bluff on the taxpaying public. The road has neither been cemented nor tarred. The road is muddy and full of puddles, and is a complete let down by the so called ‘Smart City’.
The possibility is that the Smart City officials are under tremendous pressure from the public and the cognisance that the High Court has taken of the delay in completing the work.
The wise men of the Smart City are completely oblivious to the fact that the incomplete road is completely unsafe for commuters and pedestrians, with no barricades erected on either side of the incomplete road. Additionally, the road is a nightmare for pedestrians who have to dodge their way through puddles, in the absence of footpaths. However, what is of serious concern is that the opened road from Taad-Maad shrine to STP has no street lights, posing a threat to citizens.
Incidentally, the Taad- Maad shrine to STP Plant road was the first to be taken up by the Smart City mission eight years ago. The road was closed for construction of the culvert for years. But till date the road has not been completed and throwing open an incomplete road, is a complete bluff on the people, activists argue.
Speaking to O Heraldo, activist Tanoj Advalpalkar said, “Definitely it is a bluff. The road from Taad-Maad shrine to STP Tonca was the first one to be closed when Smart City work was taken up, about eight years ago. People suffered since they could not use this road. The authorities said they would construct the culvert. They have now said that this road was complete, but nothing is complete. This opened road is still incomplete after eight years. They have removed the drainage slab since the water is not flowing. No sewage work has been done here. Again the road will have to be dug.”
“Second there is no footpath for pedestrians to walk. All the Smart City work is substandard. All the works including the Smart City, highway work and even that of Kala Academy is all substandard,” Advalpalkar insisted.
Activist Cecille Rodrigues told O Heraldo, “The road is not complete fully. It is so unsafe for people because there is no street lighting. If you go ahead there a big ditch on the other side. If someone coming this way, does not see it there are going to be accidents. So Smart City does not take any safety measures, when it executes work. If you have roads like these, there should be barricades till the end, which are not put.”
“On the other hand, the road going to Taleigao has a ditch on one side. I would have fallen into it. Half done roads, no barricades, very unsafe and I don’t know what kind of Smart City it is. They are definitely bluffing people, because people are expressing their anger and even the High Court has taken cognisance. Haphazard opening has been done, which is very unsafe. So, people, your life matters the most, because you have to be alert and the government does not care for anyone,” Rodrigues cautioned.
Given that Smart City projects function within the parametres of democracy, it is exigent that the executors of the project should not only carry out the Centrally-sponsored projects as mandated, but should also be accountable and responsive to the public.