PANJIM: After the heavy unseasonal showers flooded the city on Saturday morning, Panjim civic authority and the Imagine Panjim Smart City Development Ltd are running for cover to speed up the work.
In a meeting on monsoon preparedness, Panjim City Mayor and Smart City MD, Sanjit Rodrigues, discussed the challenges faced by the city and outlined their plans to address them. During the meeting, Smart City MD Sanjit Rodrigues acknowledged that the heavy rainfall had hindered their progress due to high water tables and flooded manholes. Consequently, work had been delayed for several days. However, he assured that the completion date for the Smart City project work remains unchanged. He announced plans to increase shifts and deploy additional pumps to expedite the work and make up for lost time.
Regarding the upcoming elections, any roads leading to polling stations that require cleaning and operationalizing will be attended to promptly. Discussions between the North Goa Collector are scheduled to resolve any accessibility issues. Additionally, complaints have been lodged against two contractors responsible for project delays.
The focal point now is the stormwater drainage connection. Efforts will be directed towards clearing bottlenecks and intersections in the drainage system. Work on road pavements will continue, but redoing streets will be prioritized based on their connection to the drainage network.
While a stretch of road from Hindu Pharmacy to Church Square was expected to opened on the day of the rains on Saturday, increased moisture levels after the rain, have caused a delay in the work. The authorities aim to complete the project within the next two days.
, but they must wait for the road to dry before proceeding. It is important to note that all agencies involved are working collectively to expedite the completion of the Smart City work.
Mayor Rohit Monserrate expressed concerns over certain areas experiencing flooding after the first pre-monsoon shower, emphasizing the need for swift action. To tackle the issue, the concerned authorities have committed to complete the necessary infrastructure work. He added that one of the steps taken includes requesting the Public Works Department (PWD) to open the old Portuguese drains for desilting.
