Team Hearlad
PANJIM: With the March 31 deadline pledged by Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) fast approaching, Panjim's discordantly named ‘Smart City work’ continues at a sluggish pace, its progress marred by chaos, disorganisation and bureaucratic hurdles.
Despite IPSCDL's assurances of timely completion, a large chunk of the work is still pending. Last month, IPSCDL admitted that in Central Panjim alone, 3,450 metres of road work remains unfinished. According to an affidavit filed before the High Court of Bombay at Goa, only 200 metres of roadwork is pending in St Inez out of a total of 3,000 metres, but Rua de Ourem still has 13,800 metres of incomplete roadwork.
Residents complain that haphazard digging and re-digging, often without notice, has become routine. Contractors frequently return to areas where work was claimed to be finished, only to excavate once again. Recently, key points like the UCO Bank-Govinda Building junction, Vishal Mega Mart Junction, and Atmaram Borkar Road were dug up despite previous claims of completion.
The ongoing mess has frustrated residents and business owners alike. "The situation is very bad. The number of customers visiting our shops has reduced. I’m getting some business only because I’ve been here for years," said a shopkeeper on Atmaram Borkar Road, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"This is a very bad phase for us; most shops are struggling," added another shopkeeper. "We have salaries to pay and expenses to cover. With no customers, how will we survive? Roads are dug up without notice, left closed for days, and even when reopened, they remain incomplete."
Ironically, even workers on the ground remain sceptical about meeting the March 31 deadline, and say they aren’t sure of when they will wrap it up. "Only works that have received clearance from the authorities will be completed on time," one worker admitted.
City resident Dr Odette Lobo expressed her frustration, stating, "I don’t think the work will finish before March 31. The entire exercise has become a joke. Roads across the city are a mess. Look at the condition of the stretch near Cafe Bhosle or the incomplete works at Mala, Altinho, EDC, D B Marg, and 18th June Road – they are a mess. I believe over 40% of the work is still pending. This delay will only inflate the contractors' bills."
Sharing similar concerns, Shalini Naik added, "Both roads and footpaths have been dug up, making it difficult to even walk, especially for children and senior citizens. Even where roads have been relaid, there are gaps between the road and footpath. I have no idea when they’ll finally fix it."