A total of four consultancy agencies, empanelled by the Union Ministry for Urban Development, have bid to prepare a Smart City Action Plan for Panjim. The Smart City Plan, which will supersede all previous plans- which are not executed till date- will be drafted indicating the core infrastructure elements, with the plan to be prepared within 90 days from the date of appointment of the consultant.
The two nodal agencies- Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) and the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) will soon be constituting a common Smart City Special Cell, with representatives like Architects, Engineers and Technical Staff, to guide the consultant in preparing and further implementing the Smart City Action Plan for Panjim.
The four consultancy agencies are- Lea & Associates South Asia Pvt Ltd, Infosys Ltd, Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd and Daashaw & Company Pvt Ltd. The committee, chaired by Panjim Mayor Shubham Chodankar and CCP Commissioner and GSIDC managing director Sanjit Rodrigues are evaluating the technical bids of the four companies. The companies, on October 2 made their detailed representation before officials of the CCP and GSIDC on the smart city action plan.
In the first year of development, the city will receive a Rs 200 crore installment from the Union Ministry for Urban Development.
Speaking to Herald, Chodankar confirmed that four agencies, empanelled by the Union Ministry, have quoted for the smart city project for the city. “The technical bids are under evaluation, while the financial bids are yet to be opened,” he said. “The consultant will be finalized as soon as possible,” the Mayor added.
Chodankar said that the action plan will incorporate some of the ideas and plans, which are already being drafted towards making Panjim a master city. The core infrastructure elements for the Smart City include adequate water supply, assured electricity supply, sanitation including solid waste management, efficient urban mobility and public transport, affordable housing especially for the poor, robust IT connectivity and digitalisation, good governance especially e-governance and citizen participation, sustainable environment, safety and security of citizens particularly women/ children/ elderly people and health and education.
