PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Wednesday inaugurated the ‘Beautification of Beachfront Promenade at Miramar’ project that has been carried out by Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSDL) under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Mission.

Sawant said he was proud that the Rs 12-crore project was completed as it would not only give a facelift to the beach but offer various facilities to locals and tourists visiting the beach. These include a walkway, children’s park, public gymnasium, iconic pergola and fish installation, toilets etc. Sawant added that the place could be a platform for musicians to showcase their talents and also be an area where youngsters and children can spend their leisure time.

The CM noted that he was very happy that no trees were cut by the consultant of the project while carrying out the beautification work. He added that he is very much concerned about trees on beaches being cut and added that people feel sad when they visit beaches and see cut trees.

Incidentally, while the Deputy Mayor of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) Vasant Agshikar and Panjim Smart City CEO Ravi Dhawan were present for the inaugural function, Panjim BJP MLA Atanasio Monserrate and Panjim Mayor Rohit Monserrate were conspicuous by their absence. Both the Monserrates are part of the IPSDL Board too.

This comes at a time when the CM has been holding various inaugural functions along with BJP MLAs in their respective constituencies.