PANJIM: Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) came for praise from Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza, who slammed the Public Works Department (PWD) for their sluggish work.
The failure to spruce up the Mapusa police station complex was the prime reason for the Mapusa MLA to recommend that GSIDC take up major state infrastructure projects, while restricting PWD to smaller works.
“The new building of Mapusa police station, which is constructed by PWD, was supposed to be commissioned in December last year. I now doubt whether it would happen by this December end,” the Deputy Chief Minister told media persons, disagreeing with the PWD concept of issuing five to six different tenders for civil and other works related to electricity, plumbing, etc.
“They issue separate tenders for different works. That too, they don’t issue in one go but only after completion of one work. This delays the entire project,” D’Souza said adding, “there is a need to streamline the PWD functioning.”
“PWD will never complete work on time. On the other hand, GSIDC will give you time bound and best product,” he said in presence of GSIDC Chairman Dr Pramod Sawant.
The PWD portfolio is with Ramakrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar of the MGP. The government in the recent past has awarded all major infrastructure works, including new school premises, health centres at Mandur, cottage hospital at Chicalim, Mandovi bridge, expansion of Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) and its maintenance, to GSIDC. Presently, the only major project with PWD is six-lane Zuari Bridge.
D’Souza said GSIDC is overloaded and hence delivery is little slow, but better when compared to PWD. “The biggest challenge before GSIDC is to complete the South Goa District hospital by December,” he said.
