PANJIM: The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) will not go ahead with the construction of second smart road from Down the Road near Old Patto bridge up to Four Pillars Junction and will take a decision post monsoon.
In 2022, as part of Smart City Mission, the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) had taken up construction of two smart roads in the capital city — one from Hotel Goa International to Vivanta By Taj, Bal Bhavan, Campal to Madhuvan Junction, via Caculo Mall, Sheetal Hotel Junction, St Inez to Madhuvan Junction and second smart road from Rua De Ourem stretch road (Old Patto bridge to Four Pillars Junction) via new Patto bridge Junction.
This was in addition to upgradation, augmentation and construction of footpaths, a cycle track etc and laying of new utilities such as electrical, water supply, sewage lines and optic fibre cables (OFC) under Smart City Mission in the limits of Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP).
M/s Bagkiya Construction Private Limited, Goa was awarded the tender for the development of two smart roads at an estimated cost of over Rs 128.15 crore. The estimates were revised as laying of utility services were not listed in the original scope of work.
Both the Smart roads were to be constructed and developed under Smart City Mission on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode instead of traditional item rate tenders or percentage tenders or PPP basis.
Though it was stated in the tender that the Smart roads will be developed within 18 months from the date of signing the agreement with the bidder and issuing of work orders, the work got delayed and was speeded up only last year.
But after some citizens approached the Bombay High Court at Goa to control the dust pollution caused due to digging works, the IPSCDL had to file a compliance report before the Bombay High Court at Goa that the ongoing Smart City works will be completed by May 31 this year.
With only a fortnight left to complete the works, it has been decided to keep the construction of 1.4-km-long second Smart City road on hold and to take a decision after monsoon subsides. The contractor has to develop both the smart roads as per the EPC.
