The Capital city Panjim – a Smart City in the making – may soon see some replications of Indore city, one of the first twenty cities to be developed under Smart City Mission, now known for its cleanliness and some of the best practices adopted for its people’s Smart living.
Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) Vice Chairman Siddharat Kuncolienkar and Imagine Panjim Pvt Ltd CEO Swayan Chaudhuri, who got an opportunity to visit the Indore City earlier this month, were highly impressed with the Smart City initiatives adopted by the Indore Municipal Corporation.
“I had visited Bhopal some 10-12 years ago. It was one of the dirtiest places. But today what I saw was a complete new Indore city. I can say it is the cleanest city in the country, where despite having thousands of karts, gaddas, shops along the roadside, there is not a single piece of paper on the road,” Kuncolienkar told Herald.
“It is one thing that I would definitely like to replicate in Panjim. Our aim is to make entire Goa garbage free and Panjim can lead with an example,” former Panjim BJP MLA said informing at the Indore Municipal Corporation is involved in collection of waste thrice a day from commercial as well as residential establishments.
He said they have a simple yet dedicated garbage management system in place. “When I met the Mayor of the city (Malini Laxmansigh Gaur), she told me that people there were very supportive. They never objected to any projects that government proposed to make their living smart,” Kuncolienkar said.
What makes Indore city different from Goa was that the people there had extended their full support to the government for developmental cum infrastructural works. “People support is most important for government, when it intends to bring difference,” GSIDC vice chairman stated.
Indore was the eleventh state to be qualified under the Mission, which aims to emphasise development in various sectors including governance, transportation, energy and waste management, health, water, education, infrastructure and heritage.
Panjim is also amongst the 100 cities shortlisted under the Mission, where an amount of Rs 1000 crore will be spent over next five years.
“I was also impressed with their underground cabling system. Not just electrical cables, but data, water, energy cables were laid underground. In Panjim, through electric cables are underground, you can see the data cables lying all over,” he said.
Motorized bike sharing system, dedicate transport for women, restoration of heritage structures, etc are the other plans adopted by the Indore city.
