Smart City: CM says works will be completed by June 15

All roads to be laid with a layer of  hot-mix by June 10

Panaji: Admitting that the Smart City works in Panaji are not going on as planned, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that all such major works in the capital city would however be completed by June 15.

“For many days I was expecting improvement to take place in the execution of these works, but things didn’t move forward as desired,” he lamented.

Sawant said that he has held meeting with all contractors of the Smart City works, besides staff of the department of water resources, consultants, heads of the departments, etc., and instructed them to expedite the works.

“They have been asked to work in 3 shifts 24×7, utilise as much labour force as required and issue short tenders to expedite the work,” he added, pointing out that rains are expected by June 8, by which time all major works and connections would be put in place.

It was also informed that all roads will be hot-mixed by June 10.  The Chief Minister further expressed concern that roads could sink as major sewerage pipelines have been replaced. “Lack of co-ordination between works done within Smart City jurisdiction and connecting works in surrounding areas are the main reasons for this problem,” he noted.

Speaking further, Sawant said that connecting works had to be also tendered at the same time. “We have taken all precautions to prevent flooding in Panaji, including Mala, as new high capacity pumping station and a gate has been installed in the area,” he revealed.

Interestingly, in a last attempt to bring some orderliness and streamline the Smart City works before the arrival of monsoon, the government has brought in the IAS officer and Secretary (Housing), Sanjit Rodrigues as the CEO and MD of the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd., the special purpose vehicle for the Smart City works, with immediate effect.

“Sanjit has experience with the Corporation of the City of Panaji and the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation, and he has handled Amrut Mission as well as other projects, and is well versed with the works in Panaji,” the Chief Minister observed, adding that Rodrigues would be the single point of contact for all Smart city works.

“We have given him full powers,” he added.  Meanwhile, in a repeat of past many incidents, a heavy vehicle – water tanker – sank as the road caved in at St. Inez. The area had been dug up to carry out the sewerage works. No one was injured in the incident.